Former workers who meet all Georgia unemployment insurance eligibility requirements may enroll in the federal Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, which is administered within the state by the GA Department of Labor (GDOL).

GA qualifications for unemployment include several preconditions, along with a set of criteria that must be met on a regular basis in order to maintain eligibility for unemployment benefits.

Prior to filing for UI benefits in Georgia, unemployment petitioners must provide proof of lawful U.S. presence and sign the Applicant Status Affidavit. After the department establishes whether the claimant is a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident or a lawfully present non-citizen, the remaining requirements regarding eligibility for EDD in Georgia will be considered.

The weekly amount and the duration of benefits in Georgia depend on several factors. First, based on the average earned wages from the base period, UI petitioners may qualify for $55 to $365 of UI weekly payments. The duration of UI benefits, on the other hand, depends on the total unemployment rate within the state at the moment the applicant files for insurance.

Note that, once a claim is established, it will be valid for 12 months, and this period is known as a benefit year. After the year’s expiry, state workers who are still unemployed will have to meet the unemployment insurance eligibility criteria anew.

We have compiled helpful information, hints, and tips about qualifying for unemployment benefits in Georgia on this website and FAQs and our free guide. Read more below to learn about who can qualify for unemployment in Georgia.

Who Qualifies for Unemployment Benefits in Georgia?

The basic requirements that determine who qualifies for unemployment in Georgia are the work and the wage criteria. According to the former, only employees who were not at fault for their job separation meet the eligibility for EDD benefits.

Whereas, according to the second requirement, only workers who have earned a sufficient amount of wages in insured employment during a one-year base period qualify for the UI program. Based on the work requirement, dismissed employees may meet eligibility for unemployment in Georgia in the following cases:

• They were let go for reasons other than misconduct.
• They voluntarily left work because of a good, work-related cause.
• They were laid off due to a work shortage.
• Their working hours were reduced due to a work shortage.

To meet the program’s monetary qualifications for unemployment, on the other hand, UI claimants must have earned wages in at least six months of their base period. The standard base year consists of the first four completed calendar quarters in the 15 months leading up to your filing for benefits in GA.

In your two highest-paying quarters, you must have earned wages equal to at least $1,134, and the total amount of your base period earnings must be equal to or greater than 1.5 times the wages you earned in your highest-paying quarter.

As the amount of UI weekly payments depends on the applicant’s average salary, he or she must provide correct information during the application process. The department’s examining officer will review all facts and create the Benefit Determination, which will inform the claimant of the amount of benefits for which he or she is eligible.

Note: Petitioners who do not meet the unemployment insurance eligibility criteria for wages can request an assessment of their alternate base period, which consists of the last 12 months prior to their filing for UI benefits.

What are the Requirements to Get Unemployment Payments in Georgia on a Regular Basis?

After meeting the basic qualifications for unemployment in GA, state workers will be able to file for a UI claim. However, to be granted your first and any subsequent payments, you will be required to fulfill additional eligibility for EDD requirements on a weekly basis.

The regular recertification procedure requires applicants to:

• Be able to work.
• Actively seek work.
• Be available for a position that suits their skills.
• Report all weekly earnings, including severance pays, vacation payments and pensions.
• Accept all job referrals from the GDOL.
• Attend any mandatory reemployment activities.

State employees can undergo the weekly certification procedure to reaffirm their eligibility for unemployment benefits via the internet, by phone or in person through a local GDOL center. Note that UI beneficiaries who are unable to claim a certain week of benefits can file for that week during the next recertification procedure.

However, failure to claim benefits for two consecutive weeks will lead to the temporary closure of the applicant’s UI claim.

Note: Providing false statements during the weekly reaffirmation process will lead to the denial of benefits. Also, UI claimants will have to reimburse the GDOL for any overpayment of benefits during this denial period.

Last Updated: October 13, 2022