Georgia Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment Resource

Eligibility

Just 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 ability to work, availability for work and seeking work actively.

There are several qualification requirements. The most important ones are: You must have earned enough money in the base period to set up a claim. You must be unemployed through no fault of your own. You must be able to work, available for work and actively seeking work each week you claim benefits.

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.

File a claim

Unemployment insurance is temporary income for workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own and who are either looking for another job, have a definite recall within six weeks or are in approved training.

The funding for unemployment insurance benefits comes from taxes paid by employers. Workers do not pay any of the costs. You may file your claim at the Georgia Department of Labor career center nearest you. Bring your social security number. We cannot file your claim without it.

If you received a separation notice or letter from your former employer, bring it with you when you file your claim. In some cases this will help speed up the process of determining your eligibility for benefits. You will need the names and addresses of your employers for the last 18 months and the dates you worked at each place.

Bring proof of your immigration status if you are not a citizen of the United States. You may have your checks deposited directly to your checking or savings account. If you wish to have this done, bring a check with your account number and your bank's routing number. If you separated from the military in the last 18 months, bring your DD214 Member 4.

If you worked for the federal government in the last 18 months, bring Standard Form 50 and Standard Form 8. If you do not have Standard Form 50, please bring a W-2 form or pay stubs in order for the department to estimate your wages.

Your claim is effective the date you first file for benefits. The department does not backdate claims.

Your claim is based on insured wages earned in the base period. You must have earned qualifying wages in at least two of the four quarters in the base period of the claim.

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. The minimum unemployment benefit amount you can receive is $40 per week and the maximum unemployment benefit amount is $295 per week. The amount an individual will receive is based on the amount of wages earned in the base period.

The maximum number of weeks for any claim is 26. The minimum number of weeks is 8. The actual number of weeks established for your claim depends on your earnings in the base period.

To file an unemployment benefit claim, call the Georgia Department of Labor career center in your area.

Source: Georgia Department of Labor