Filing a weekly claim is an essential part of receiving Georgia unemployment compensation. These benefits are provided by the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) and paid for by employers (not employees).
After applying for Georgia unemployment benefits, you must continue to file a weekly claim to receive your benefit payments.
When you claim your weekly benefits, you will be prompted to report the following:
- Certify that you were able and available for work
- Certify that you met work search requirements by recording 3 job contacts
- Report any job offers you received during the week
- Report any income you earned during the week
How to file a weekly claim
You can claim your weekly benefits online, by phone, or in person at a Georgia Career Center. It is recommended that you file online since it is the fastest method.
If you run into issues claiming your benefits, call UI Customer Service. Their hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. Due to high call volumes, you may experience longer wait times on Mondays and Tuesdays.
How to file a weekly claim in person
To file a weekly claim in person, simply download the Weekly Claim Form (DOL-421) and deliver the completed form to your local Career Center.
How to file a weekly claim online
To file a weekly claim online, visit Georgia’s MyUI Claimant Portal. The portal is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Login with the password you created when you filed for unemployment insurance benefits.
Click on “Claim Weekly UI Benefits Payments” under the Online Services section. This will open the Certification Access page. Choose the week for which you’re claiming benefits.
You will be asked a series of questions. Review your answers carefully to ensure their accuracy to avoid issues with overpayments or unemployment fraud.
When you are finished, the system will display a message at the top of the screen indicating either “Your entries have been accepted and your certification will be processed the next working day” or “Your entry has been received, but cannot be processed.” If your weekly certification isn’t accepted or can’t be processed, contact your local Career Center immediately.
How to file a weekly claim by phone
To claim your weekly benefits via phone using the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, you’ll need your 4-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) that you set up when you filed your initial claim. If you haven’t created a GDOL PIN yet, you can do so the first time you request weekly benefits over the phone.
To claim your weekly benefits using the GDOL IVR System over the phone, dial the toll-free number: 866-598-4164
Listen carefully and follow all instructions. If you already have a GDOL PIN, proceed to step 5. If you don’t have a PIN, go to step 4 to create one.
To create a GDOL PIN, select Option 2 and follow the instructions.
Choose Option 3 (Request Payments) to claim your benefits. You will be asked a series of questions. Respond to each by pressing 1 for Yes or 9 for No.
If you earned wages during the week you’re claiming benefits, enter the amount you earned before taxes and other deductions when prompted. Enter dollars and cents.
Example:
If you earned $210.50, press 21050. If you earned $39.50, press 3950.
After answering all questions, the IVR will repeat your responses for confirmation. Listen carefully to ensure you entered your answers correctly.
Sample Questions
When claiming your weekly benefits, you’ll be asked the following questions to make sure you meet the eligibility requirements for the week you’re claiming benefits:
- Were you able, available, and actively looking for work this week?
- Did you refuse any work offered this week?
- Did you work or earn any wages this week?
- If yes, what were your gross earnings?
- Are you still working?
- If no, did the job you worked end because there was no work for you to perform this week?
Be truthful in your answers. Providing false information on your UI claim is unemployment fraud, which is against the law and can lead to criminal prosecution. If the GDOL finds out you weren’t honest, you’ll need to repay any benefits you received for weeks you weren’t eligible.
Make sure you enter your answers correctly. If you make a mistake and can’t re-enter the right information, contact your Career Center right away.
Report any wages during the week they’re earned, even if you haven’t been paid for the work yet. Report the amount you earned before taxes and other deductions. Have this information ready before you start the process of claiming your benefits.
Weekly Work Search Requirement
As part of the Georgia unemployment eligibility requirements, you must make a genuine effort to find suitable work as soon as possible. You will only receive payment for weeks in which you actively look for work.
During the weekly claims process, you must confirm that you made 3 new job contacts for the week. Maintain a detailed record of your work search activities, and submit evidence of your activities online through the MyUI Claimant Portal or by faxing it to 877-302-1573.
Claim Status Tracker
To check the status of your weekly unemployment claim, you can use the Claim Status Tracker. This tool is available in your MyUI account. You can check if your claim was submitted, processed, if an eligibility determination was released, or if an appeal has been filed.
You can also check the status by calling the Interactive Voice Response at 866-598-4164.
Receiving Weekly Benefit Payments
After successfully filing your weekly unemployment claim, you will typically receive a payment within 3 days. You can collect your benefit payments through direct deposit or on a Georgia UI Way2Go Debit MasterCard. To estimate your weekly benefit amount, you can use the Georgia unemployment calculator.
Direct deposit into your bank account is the preferred method for receiving benefits. If approved, your payments can be in your account within three days after claiming your weekly benefits. To set up direct deposit, provide your bank’s routing number and your savings or checking account number.
If you prefer, your payments can be deposited onto a Georgia UI Way2Go Debit MasterCard. This debit card is accepted wherever MasterCard debit cards are allowed. The card is valid for any UI claim you file within the next three years, so store it safely. If you’re still receiving benefits when the three-year period ends, Comerica Bank will automatically issue a new card to you.