COVID-19 Individual FAQs

If your employer sent you home due to a lack of work because of COVID-19 and is not paying you for your time off, you are eligible to receive unemployment benefits. Only workers who are not being paid or who are being paid for reduced hours due to COVID-19 are eligible to receive benefits. You must report gross wages earned and any leave pay as earnings for each week claimed for benefits.

Individuals whose hours have been reduced are eligible to receive benefits if your gross earnings plus the earnings allowance does not exceed your weekly benefit amount. You are required to report your gross earnings for the hours worked each week (the amount of your pay before deductions). You must report any vacation pay, holiday pay, and/or earnings during the week in which it was earned, NOT the week it was paid. If your employer files a claim on your behalf, they are required to report your gross earnings,

All weekly earnings over $150.00 are deducted dollar for dollar from the benefit payment for week ending dates on or after 6/27/2021.

If your employer is filing an employer filed partial claim on your behalf, you DO NOT need to file a claim.

If you quit your job or voluntarily chose to stay out of work due to COVID-19, YOU MUST FILE YOUR OWN CLAIM. Your employer cannot file for you.

Unemployment benefits are paid on a weekly basis. Your payment will be released within 24-48 hours after your employer files an employer filed partial claim on your behalf. If you file your own claim, your payments will be released once a written determination to allow benefits is released.

You may receive benefit payments by debit card or direct deposit. A Georgia UI Way2Go Debit MasterCard® will be mailed to you. Your Social Security Number (SSN) and date of birth are required to activate the card. Once the card is activated, you may use it anywhere MasterCard is accepted to make purchases or withdraw funds.

If you wish to receive your payment by direct deposit, you must enter your banking information at UI Benefit Payment Methods. A password is required. If your employer filed on your behalf, go to Create/Forgot Password and/or PIN to create a password.

NOTE: If you do not have Internet access to set up direct deposit, you must receive your payments via debit card. The GDOL staff cannot set up direct deposit for you.

You have the option of having federal and/or state income taxes withheld from your benefit payments. Tell your employer whether or not you want taxes withheld. If so, the GDOL will withhold 10% for federal and 6% for state taxes.

The GDOL must determine if you earned enough wages during the base period. The regular base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters at the time you file your claim. If your claim cannot be established using the regular base period, the alternative base period will be used. The alternative base period is the last four completed calendar quarters at the time you file your claim.

After meeting the wage requirements, your weekly benefit amount (WBA) is calculated as follows:

Regular WBA Calculation

Total Wages in 2 Highest Quarters = WBA (disregard cents)
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                       42

Alternate Calculation

Total Wages in Highest Quarter = WBA (disregard cents)
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                       21

Call the Georgia UI Way2Go Debit MasterCard® at 1.888.929.2460 to report a card as lost or stolen card. One free replacement card may be issued in a 12-month period.

UI Debit MasterCard® Customer Service handles all inquiries regarding the debit card including cards not received, lost or stolen. UI Debit MasterCard® Customer Service does not have access to any claim or payment information. Claim inquiries should be directed to the Georgia Department of Labor.

Claimants are required to be actively search for work and report work search activities weekly as a requirement to receive UI benefits.

Learn About Work Search Requirements

Individuals who perform services for, with, to, or on behalf of an educational institution and are out of work as a result of COVID-19 may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits. Individuals who are being paid or will be paid by their employer for the break period must report their gross earnings for each week claimed. Educational workers should make sure their employer will not file claims on their behalf prior to filing their own claim.

Only the President of the United States and the U.S. Congress can enact legislation to extend UI benefits. We are waiting on information from the USDOL to see how the CARES Act will apply in Georgia. This bill will extend unemployment benefits an additional 13 weeks.

Eligibility in such cases must be determined on a case-by-case basis. If you voluntarily chose not to go to work, you must file your own claim. Your employer cannot file for you. GDOL will review your claim and determine your eligibility.

You may email, fax, or mail your certification to your career center. The career center information is located on the GDOL website at dol.georgia.gov under Find a Career Center.

The requirement for the registrar to sign the form every four (4) weeks is waived until further notice. Write "<Name of School> closed due to COVID-19" in the blank for the registrar’s signature.

Your payment may not be the full $600 if you have elected to have state and federal taxes deducted. Federal taxes are deducted at 10% and state taxes at 6%. Unemployment benefits are taxable income. Other deductions may include court ordered or voluntary child support or repayment of an UI overpayment (one-half of your $600 PFUC payment will be deducted and applied to your outstanding overpayment).

The GDOL started issuing payments on Monday, April 13, 2020 for those currently receiving state benefits and will continue to issue them for all eligible weeks through July 31, 2020.