how to apply for georgia unemployment benefits

^{How unemployment works in Georgia}

• As soon as you become unemployed, file a Georgia unemployment application with the state’s Department of Labor.
• After receiving an approval from the Georgia unemployment department, you must enroll with the Georgia DOL Employment Services to receive benefits. This department will help with your job hunt.
• You will begin receiving Georgia unemployment weekly claims, anywhere between $55 and $365, depending on your previous work history and case.
• To continue receiving benefits, you must file a Georgia unemployment weekly claim to prove you are continuing to search for new work. This is mandatory and must be done weekly.
You are eligible to receive Georgia unemployment weekly claims for between 14 and 20 weeks, depending on the Georgia unemployment rate, and so long as you continue meeting Georgia unemployment ...
In times of high unemployment, the state may provide additional help. While Georgia unemployment extensions are rare, you may qualify based on a case-by-case basis.

How do you calculate unemployment benefits in Georgia?

• You must have earned wages in at least two quarters during the base period.
• You must have earned at least $1,134 in wages during the two quarters of your base period in which you earned the highest wages.
• Your total wages during the base period must be at least 1.5 times the wages you earned in the highest quarter of your base period.

How to tell if you are eligible for unemployment benefits?

You must be:

• Physically able to work.
• Available for work.
• Ready and willing to accept work immediately.

What are the requirements for unemployment in Georgia?

• Your past earnings must meet certain minimum thresholds.
• You must be unemployed through no fault of your own, as defined by Georgia law.
• You must be able and available to work, and you must be actively seeking employment.

What is the maximum weekly unemployment benefit in Georgia?

Georgia’s minimum weekly unemployment insurance compensation is $44, and the maximum is $330. Weekly payments outside these parameters are not permitted. To determine your weekly benefit, Georgia adds the amount of insured wages you earned during you two highest-paying calendar quarters and divides the total by 42.

Who can apply for unemployment benefits in Georgia?

Georgia law requires that all applicants for UI benefits who are 18 years of age or older attest they are:a United States citizen, ora legal permanent resident, ora non-citizen legally present in the United States.

How do I file a claim for unemployment insurance in Georgia?

Unemployment claims can be filed in person at any Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) career center or by Internet from any computer with appropriate Internet access.To file an unemployment claim via the Internet, you must have a valid email address. This email account should be your personal email address because private and confidential information about your claim will be sent to this email address.

What is the maximum and minimum number of weeks a regular unemployment claim in Georgia can be established?

Effective July 1, 2012, the maximum number of weeks a claim can be established will range from 14 to 20, depending on the seasonal adjusted statewide unemployment rate in use at the time the regular UI claim is filed. For claims filed from July 1 through December 31, Georgia’s seasonal adjusted UI rate for the previous April will be used. For claims filed from January 1 through June 30, Georgia’s seasonal adjusted UI rate for the previous October will be used. The minimum number of weeks is 6.

How long must I have worked to establish a claim for unemployment benefits in Georgia?

See full answerYour claim is based on insured wages earned in the base period, which is the first four of the last five calendar quarters completed at the time you file your claim. You must have earned qualifying wages in at least two of the four quarters in the base period. The total wages in the base period must equal or exceed one and one-half times the wages in the highest quarter. A secondary calculation will be made when the sole reason that a claim cannot be established is the one and one-half times requirement. An alternative base period consisting of the most recently completed four calendar quarters will be used only when a claim cannot be established using the regular base period.

What are the Browser Requirements for Filing a Claim for Unemployment Insurance in Georgia Online?

JavaScript must be enabled and pop-up blockers should be set to allow pop-ups.The claim filing process contains PDFs that may need to be printed and Adobe Acrobat Reader will be required. A free software download is available. Please ensure this software is available prior to beginning the claim filing processAdobe web site

How do I claim unemployment benefits in Georgia each week after I file?

Once you file your claim, you will be required to certify your eligibility for each week you claim benefits and submit your work search for each week of benefits claimed. You may claim benefits using the telephone interactive voice response system, over the Internet, or in person at a GDOL Career Center.

Is everyone eligible for the maximum number of weeks of unemployment benefits in Georgia?

No. The individual’s base period wages are used to determine the maximum benefits payable which may or may not qualify an individual for the maximum number of weeks. The maximum benefits payable to an individual in a benefit year is the least of the maximum number of weeks times the weekly benefit amount or one-fourth of the base period wages.

Why has the maximum number of potential unemployment weeks in Georgia been changed?

The Georgia Legislature passed House Bill 347 which changes the calculation method to determine the maximum number of weeks to be based upon the adjusted statewide unemployment rate in use at the time the regular UI claim is filed. The change became effective July 1, 2012.

Can I receive multiple determinations on my unemployment benefits claim in Georgia?

The department will release a determination on each separate issue on your claim. As a result, you may sometimes receive more than one determination. A decision imposing any kind of disqualification takes precedence over a decision allowing benefits. For example, you could receive a decision allowing benefits because you were laid off due to lack of work, but be ineligible because you do not have child care to enable you to look for another job.

What do I have to do to qualify for benefits in Georgia if I have earned enough money to establish a claim?

See full answerJust earning enough money to set up a claim is not enough to receive unemployment benefits. You must also meet other eligibility conditions. You must have a decision made on the reason for separation from your last work. If your most recent job loss was not the result of a lack of work (i.e. layoff, business closure), a decision on the reason for separation is required. A department employee may conduct a telephone interview with you and your former employer to get information about the reason for your separation or any other issues which might affect your claim. A written decision will be mailed to you, and to your employer if the issue is separation. Other requirements include, but are not limited to, being able to work, being available for work, and actively seeking work.

Are there other requirements if I receive unemployment benefits in Georgia?

See full answerYes. If you are awarded benefits based on your reason for separation from your last employer, you must meet other weekly requirements. You must be able to do some kind of work that is available in your area and that you are qualified to do. You must be available for work without placing undue restrictions on your availability, such as lack of child care, lack of transportation, or other restrictions. You must be actively seeking work each week and you must be looking for full-time employment. As a part of your weekly certification, you must submit three new verifiable job search contacts for each week of benefits claimed. You must not refuse any offer of suitable work or referral to suitable work without good cause.You must be actively registered for employment services to receive UI benefits, unless exempt by law.

Can I draw unemployment benefits in Georgia if I quit my job?

If you quit, you may be eligible to draw benefits if you can show that you quit for good work-connected reason(s). Examples of good work-connected reasons are material change in working conditions, material change in working agreement, nonpayment for work, and similar reasons. You will not be able to draw benefits if your reason for quitting was personal even though the personal reason was a good or compelling one. The only way to know for sure whether you are eligible if you quit is to file a claim. The department cannot make a predetermination of eligibility before a claim is filed.

What happens if you don't respond to Georgia unemployment?

Be sure to respond promptly. If you don’t reply by the deadline, your benefits could be delayed or denied.

How often do you have to request unemployment benefits?

After applying, individuals must request payments weekly to be paid unemployment benefits for weeks they are determined to meet eligibility requirements.

What happens if my unemployment claim is denied?

If your claim is denied, you may appeal the decision. It is important that you continue to claim weekly benefits while your appeal is pending review. More information about appeals is available on the Georgia Department of Labor website.

Can I file unemployment online in Georgia?

Georgians filing unemployment insurance (UI) claims with the Georgia Department of Labor must meet certain criteria. Individuals may file a claim for unemployment benefits online with the Georgia Department of Labor and must meet certain criteria. After applying, individuals must request payments weekly to be paid unemployment benefits ...

How long can you be paid for unemployment in Georgia?

If you receive unemployment insurance benefits of any type, you are required to make a good faith effort to find another job as soon as possible. You can only be paid for weeks during which you actively seek work. Unless the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) specifically exempts you under our law from this requirement, you are required to keep a detailed record of your work search activities and submit evidence of your efforts by Internet or fax.

Where does unemployment come from?

The funding for unemployment insurance benefits comes from taxes paid by employers. Workers do not pay any costs. Eligibility for benefits is determined based on past wages, reason for job separation, and availability and job search requirements.

What age do you have to be to get UI in Georgia?

Georgia law requires that all applicants for UI benefits who are 18 years of age or older attest they are: a non-citizen legally present in the United States. The GDOL performs electronic verification of your lawful presence in the United States with the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS).

Where does unemployment come from?

The funding for unemployment insurance benefits comes from taxes paid by employers. Workers do not pay any costs. Eligibility for benefits is determined based on past wages, reason for job separation, and availability and job search requirements.

How does unemployment work in Georgia?

How unemployment works in Georgia 1 As soon as you become unemployed, file a Georgia unemployment application with the state’s Department of Labor. 2 After receiving an approval from the Georgia unemployment department, you must enroll with the Georgia DOL Employment Services to receive benefits. This department will help with your job hunt. 3 You will begin receiving Georgia unemployment weekly claims, anywhere between $55 and $365, depending on your previous work history and case. 4 To continue receiving benefits, you must file a Georgia unemployment weekly claim to prove you are continuing to search for new work. This is mandatory and must be done weekly. 5 You are eligible to receive Georgia unemployment weekly claims for between 14 and 20 weeks, depending on the Georgia unemployment rate, and so long as you continue meeting Georgia unemployment requirements. 6 In times of high unemployment, the state may provide additional help. While Georgia unemployment extensions are rare, you may qualify based on a case-by-case basis.

How old do you have to be to file unemployment in Georgia?

To be able to file for Georgia unemployment online, you must be at least 18 years old, have a personal email address, and have earned wages from a Georgia employer within the past 24 months. After you submit your application, you will receive ...

How long do you have to wait to file unemployment?

If you don’t do this in a timely manner, your benefits could be delayed or stopped. You will be required to serve a one week unpaid waiting period. This is usually the first week that you file a claim. To keep getting benefits, you must certify that you are still unemployed every two weeks.

How often do you have to file for unemployment?

You will be required to document your search efforts when you file for unemployment insurance every week. If you find part-time work, you must keep searching for full-time work. You must make at least three contacts each week.

Talk to your employer

If you have been furloughed due to the COVID-19 crisis, it’s important that you speak with your employer about your options. Many businesses have received loans or grants that may allow them to offer at least partial paychecks to their employees.

Get your information together

Applying for unemployment is not a particularly grueling process, but you will need to know specific information.

Do your research

Applying for unemployment may be something you have never had to do before, so it’s a good idea to do a little research. If you have colleagues or local friends who have applied, send them a quick email to ask for any tips they have for the process. Again, the actual application will not be too difficult, but it’s always a good idea to be prepared.

Follow up

When a Georgian applies for unemployment insurance, they usually have to enter in weekly work searches to prove that you are actively seeking employment. However, in light of the COVID-19 crisis, that requirement has been waived, as long as the separation of employment is related to the pandemic.

Know what to expect

Once your application is received and approved, you will be contacted by the Georgia Department of Labor. They will begin sending you weekly payments, either by a Georgia UI Way2Go Debit MasterCard®, which will be mailed to your home, or through direct deposit – you can choose which option you prefer.

Other things to know

As stated above, you can choose to have your unemployment wages taxed before you receive them, or wait to pay those taxes until filing for 2020 next spring. If you do choose to have taxes taken out, there will be 10% taken for federal taxes and 6% for state taxes.