Unemployment benefits in Georgia

Can I get benefits?

You must have wages in at least 2 quarters of your base period, at least $1,134 in your 2 highest quarters, and total base-period wages of at least 1.5 times your highest quarter.

If you quit

If you quit, you may get benefits only if you show a good work-connected reason.

If you were fired

If you were fired, you cannot get benefits if your employer shows you were fired for failing to follow rules, orders or instructions, or for misconduct on the job.

Law: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 300-2-9-.01, -.02, -.05, -.10

Quit, fired, refused work and the federal rules →

The wage test, the amount and your estimate →

How much and how long?

Weekly benefit

$55–$365

Weeks

Currently 14 weeks (it changes with the unemployment rate)

Waiting week

No waiting week

Working part time

The first $50 you earn in a week is not deducted.

How it is figured and the full rules →

How to file in Georgia

Apply online through the MyUI Claimant Portal (recommended), or in person at a GDOL career center. You need a personal email address to apply online.

Apply as soon as you lose your job.

What to have ready

• Your Social Security number
• A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID
• Your Employer Separation Notice, if your employer gave you one

Certify (claim your weeks)

Weekly. Request payment every week in MyUI after the week (Sunday to Saturday) ends.

Everything about filing →

Appeal a denial

• Request for reconsideration of wages (Benefit Amount Determination) — 15 calendar days from the mailing date on the Benefit Amount Determination letter
• Appeal to the Appeals Tribunal — 15 calendar days from the release (mailing) date on the determination letter
• Appeal to the Board of Review — 15 calendar days from the release date on the Administrative Hearing Officer's decision
• Petition for judicial review in Superior Court — 30 calendar days

Deadline calculator, appeal letter and hearing checklist: Appeal details →

The hearing

Format

Usually by telephone.

Notice before the hearing

10 days

Overpayments and waivers

An overpayment means you were paid benefits you were not entitled to.

Appeal within

15 days from the mailing (release) date of the Notice of Determination and Overpayment

Waiver

The state can waive some overpayments.

Law: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 300-2-4-.08

Waiver details and the hearing checklist →

Someone filed a claim in your name

If you get mail about a claim you did not file, a 1099-G for benefits you did not get, or your payments were redirected, report it online through GDOL's Report UI Fraud & Abuse page or call the Fraud Hotline at 877-709-8185 and say "Integrity."

• Report it online
• Phone: 1-877-709-8185

National steps

1. Report it to the state where the claim was filed and follow its instructions. Some states ask for a police report or a sworn statement.
2. If you got a 1099-G for benefits you did not receive, the state will send a corrected 1099-G. When you file taxes, report only the income you actually received; do not wait for the corrected form.
3. Check your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com or 877-322-8228. Report other identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov.
4. You can also report unemployment identity fraud that happened after March 2020 to the U.S. Department of Justice National Center for Disaster Fraud. You must still report it to the state.

U.S. Department of Labor: report unemployment identity fraud

Good to know in Georgia

• Georgia's number of weeks changes twice a year with the unemployment rate. Claims filed July 1 to December 31, 2026 use the April 2026 rate of 3.5%, which means up to 14 weeks (GDOL FAQ; GDOL press release May 21, 2026).
• Georgia requires 3 new work search contacts on 3 different days every week, and you must register with WorkSource Georgia within 10 days of your first payment.

  Source: GDOL Claimant Handbook

• Georgia's appeal deadline is 15 days from the release date on the notice, for both the first appeal and the Board of Review.

  Source: GDOL Appeals Handbook

Changes in 2024–2026

No changes in 2024-2026 to the $55-$365 weekly amounts or the 14-26 week sliding scale. The earnings allowance for partial benefits has been $50 for weeks ending on or after July 8, 2023 (before that, $150). GDOL added multi-factor authentication to the MyUI portal.

Questions about unemployment in Georgia