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.
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.
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.
What is the base period for unemployment benefits in Georgia?
The base period is the period of time we look at to determine if you have been paid enough wages to establish a claim. For Georgia, the base period is the first four of the last five calendar quarters completed at the time you file your claim. 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.
Who can file for Unemployment Insurance benefits in Georgia by Internet?
If you have earned Georgia wages in the past two years, you can file a Georgia Internet claim.
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.
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.
How can I determine what unemployment rate is being used to establish my claim for unemployment benefits in Georgia?
An Unemployment Benefit Determination is mailed to claimants when an initial claim is filed on or after July 1, 2012. The determination will provide the rate for your claim filing period. The current rate for a specified claim filing period may also be obtained by contacting UI Customer Service at 404-232-3001 or 1-877-709-8185.
Does receiving a Georgia UI Way2Go Debit MasterCard® mean I am eligible to receive unemployment benefits in Georgia?
Receipt of the Georgia UI Way2Go Debit MasterCard® does not guarantee that you meet unemployment eligibility criteria established by the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL).
Can I appeal the Board of Review’s decision on my unemployment benefits in Georgia?
The Board’s decision may be appealed to the Superior Court of the county in which the work was performed. A petition for review must be filed with the court. The department does not file these appeals. If the work on which the claim was based was performed out of state, the appeal of the decision of the Board of Review must be filed in Fulton County Superior Court.
What is the Georgia UI Way2Go Debit MasterCard®?
The Georgia UI Way2Go Debit MasterCard®, operated by GoProgram® and issued by Comerica Bank, is one of two fast and reliable methods to receive unemployment benefit payments. The card is valid for three years. Individuals eligible to receive unemployment benefits during the three-year period will not receive a new card. One free replacement card may be issued each 12-month period for lost or stolen cards.
What happens if I am being paid unemployment benefits and I lose the appeal in Georgia?
If the Appeals Tribunal or the Board of Review reverses a determination that allowed benefits, you will be required to repay any benefits received.