How to Get Unemployment Pay in Georgia
In Georgia, unemployment insurance is provided to people who are laid off from their jobs. The program is run by the state's Department of Labor. Payments are made weekly, with the amount dependant on the person's previous salary. As of September 2010, benefits are available for 99 weeks. In order to qualify for insurance through Georgia's program, a person must be unemployed but available for work and actively looking for a job.
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Instructions
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Visit a Georgia Career Center. As of October 2010, Georgia has 53 different career centers. The nearest one can be located by visiting Georgia's Department of Labor website. All applicants must initially apply for benefits in person, at which time they will be asked to present a number of documents including an employer-issued separation notice, if one was provided; names and addresses of everyone for whom you've worked over past 18 months; proof your social security number; proof of immigration status; and, if you want your benefits directly deposited into your account, a personal check with an account number and bank routing number on it.
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File a claim with the Georgia Department of Labor. The person assigned to you will walk you through eligibility requirements, and using information about your compensation in your previous jobs, calculate the amount of unemployment that you are eligible to receive. If you claim is approved, a written notice will be sent to you within two or three weeks. If the claim is approved, the first check will be sent to you in the mail, providing payment from the day you filed your claim.
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Document your search for work. When you file your claim, the person handling your case will provide you with a number of forms that you must fill out documenting your attempts to seek employment. These forms must be sent back periodically to the Georgia Department of Labor. If you do not look for work, you unemployment benefits can be terminated and may not be restored.
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Claim benefits each week. Each week that an applicant is unemployed, he must contact the Department of Labor and continue to claim benefits. There are three methods of doing this: visiting a career center, calling the Department of Labor, and claiming benefits online. Claims can be made by telephone by calling the department's OLIVoR system, which uses several telephone numbers. The contact numbers and the link to the department's online claim page are available at the Department of Labor website.
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