Individual Claims

In accordance with the plan for reemployment and economic recovery, effective June 27, 2021, Georgia will no longer participate in the federal unemployment insurance (UI) programs enacted through the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act: PUA, PEUC, FPUC and MEUC. This means the last payable week for these programs will be week ending June 26, 2021, even if there is a remaining balance. All eligible payments under any of these federal programs after the program ends will continue to be processed and issued to qualified individuals. This applies to individuals whose eligibility is later determined and unemployment benefits are payable for weeks ending on or before June 26, 2021.

The following changes will become effective June 27, 2021:

Earnings Disregard: The allowable earnings amount per week will be reduced from $300 to $150. This means reported earnings in excess of $150 will be deducted dollar for dollar from the weekly entitlement amount.

Weekly Eligibility Requirements: Pandemic-related eligibility rules previously suspended requirements that claimants be able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work. These requirements will be reinstated for UI claimants. Claimants must be able and available for work and actively seek employment for each week benefit payments are requested.

Employment Services Registration and Work Search Requirements: Individuals requesting unemployment benefits must register for employment services in their state of residence to avoid interruption, delay or denial of benefits, if found to be eligible. Individuals who reside in the state of Georgia must register with EmployGeorgia including your social security number, create a resume or upload a searchable resume. Additionally, individuals must submit three work search contacts for each week payments are requested.

For more information about these requirements and how to fulfill them, view the Unemployment Insurance Claim Handbook .

Is your Benefit Year ending? When the benefit year of your UI claim has expired and you are still unemployed, you need to file a new claim online to establish a new benefit year. Your new individual claim will be processed in 4-5 weeks. You cannot establish a new benefit year claim until the Sunday following the expiring benefit year ending date. You will receive a letter in the mail about your benefit year ending or you can look in your My UI portal to see when your benefit year ends. If you are currently receiving payments at the end of your benefit year, your payments will stop until a new claim is filed and eligibility is determined. If you are not eligible to receive payments on your new claim, you may be eligible to receive benefits on a different UI program.