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, or
• a legal permanent resident, or
• a non-citizen legally present in the United States.

What information should I have when I file a claim for unemployment benefits in Georgia?

When filing a claim, you should have:

ALL INDIVIDUALS: A copy of your valid government-issued picture identification and Employer Separation Notice, if you were given one.

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.

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.

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

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Your 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.

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.

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.

Will my claim be recalculated to add extra weeks if the unemployment rate in Georgia goes up in the future?

No. An unemployment claim will be established using the unemployment rate in effect at the time of filing the claim. The claim will not be recalculated if the unemployment rate changes during the life of the 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.

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.

Are unemployment benefits taxable in Georgia?

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Yes. Any unemployment insurance benefits you receive are fully taxable income if you are required to file a tax return. At the time you file your claim, you may elect to have the department withhold state and/or federal tax on the benefits you receive. You may change this withholding election one time during the year. The department will send you a 1099-G form at the end of the calendar year showing how much in benefits you received during the previous year. It also shows the amount of taxes, if any, that were withheld. You should use this form when you file your income taxes to report benefits received and any taxes withheld by the department. Questions about filing should be directed to the IRS, to the State Department of Revenue, or to a tax consultant.

What if I disagree with the decision made on my unemployment benefits claim in Georgia?

The only way for a decision to be reviewed and potentially reversed is to file an appeal. You have the right to file an appeal of any decision made by the department on your claim. The appeal rights expire 15 days after the date the decision is released. The Commissioner of Labor does not have the authority to intervene in the appeals process. If the decision is on your separation from work, your employer also has the right to appeal. An administrative hearing officer will conduct the appeal.

How do workers’ compensation payments affect my claim for unemployment benefits in Georgia?

If you are receiving Temporary Total or Temporary Partial Workers’ Compensation payments, you are not eligible for unemployment insurance in Georgia. The only way to know for sure is to file a claim.

What if I disagree with the decision of the hearing officer for unemployment benefits in Georgia?

You may appeal to the Board of Review. The Board is a three-member panel appointed by the Governor. The Board reviews the entire record of the hearing held by the administrative hearing officer and all other relevant materials. The Board does not hold in-person hearings and does not take new evidence or testimony. The Board reviews the case and either affirms, modifies, or reverses the decision of the hearing officer. The Board’s written decision is mailed to all interested parties.

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.

Do I continue filing my weekly certifications while waiting for the unemployment benefits appeal decision in Georgia?

Yes. If you are successful on appeal, you will not get paid for any weeks for which you did not file.

Do I have to execute another Applicant Status Affidavit if I executed one last year for unemployment benefits in Georgia?

No. This is a one-time requirement, but non-citizen status documents must be presented each time an individual files for UI benefits.