Georgia Unemployment Weekly Claims

Georgia Unemployment

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.

  1. Hello, so my company filed for me initially after about 6 months they removed themselves from the equation so we could Chile a claim on our own causing us to claim weekly . I filed my own claim of course . And have been claiming weekly . My determination still says pending approval but this week when I claimed it said that my entries were accepted and would be processed the next working day . What does this mean ?

    • There seems to be a mismatch in the system. Perhaps, the office is in the process of updating. Please wait for a few days or call the Unemployment Office.

  2. I forgot to claim my weekly benefits on Sunday. I realized on Wednesday, when I usually receive my payment. Will I still receive my unemployment payment later this week?

    • Hello so I put no for the first question because my job is just temporarily closed…so I haven’t been looking for work. Will I get paid for that week? And will that affect my claim now?

  3. I’ve been certifying since the end of May 2020 but I haven’t gotten any payment. Also, I’m filing for partial unemployment. It says to put the money earned BEFORE deductions. Am I correct to assume this means before taxes and insurance is taken from my paycheck? Why would they want that, when my paycheck is so much lower after deductions??

  4. I filed a claim on 6/1/20. It says my claim must be reviewed before it is considered complete. When will I have some kind of update on the status?

    • Justin,

      There will be a delay considering the number of applications that are being processed. Please continue chasing the office/check your status online at regular intervals until payments normalize.

  5. I filed for benefits week ending March 8. I got a letter the following week stating how much I’d receive for up to 14 weeks. I applied for jobs, turned in my searches, and submitted claims for week ending March 21 & benefits were not paid. Today I tried to submit my claim for March 28 and it says “ You have inquiry access only.” I’ve been calling for over a week & no one has gotten back to me.

    • I have the same issue and haven’t been smoke to request my payments even though I’ve been approved! Can’t get in touch with anyone

      • Katia,

        I can understand your situation. Please wait for a few days for the authorities to change the system in line with the recent announcements.

    • Jason,

      Please be patient since the Unemployment Office might be short-staffed. Keep checking at regular intervals.

      • I have been calling for a week now I haven’t been able to claim my weekly benefits on the days request I have been trying to do so since march 25

        • Telicia,

          Please try finding answers online since there might be limited phone support due to the shortage of staffing. You can use the “Resources” or “FAQs” section of the website.

  6. I put in my weekly work search and got confirmation numbers for my claims i submitted but i forgot to go back and click witch weeks i was claiming for but it is stated on my weekly work search claims . But i did do it today because i noticed that the dates were not showing when i went to track my benefits for last week and this week will i receive both weeks pay ?

  7. My weekly claim date is on Monday I had medical emergency and did not claim until today 10/31/18 will I get my pay for this or will I have to wait until next week

  8. I applied 4 weeks ago at my local center. When making a weekly claim it says “You have inquiry access only.”

    2 weeks ago I received my official determination letter verifying I am supposed to receive funds. Yet I still get the “You have inquiry access only.”

    It has been 4 weeks. How can I receive money if I cant even make a weekly claim ?!?!?!?!?!?!

    • If there is a genuine delay in processing your payment, the Office will keep you informed. Please make sure to proactively chase the Claims Center for an update on payment status.

      • I applied for my pua on 7/28 it backdated from 02/20,but I still havent seen a dime or heard anythING,FROM THR GDOL,I EMAIL THEM OFTEN WITH MY COMPLont the only reply I get is if anything further is needed they would let me know that is all I get,what’s going on there am I gonna get my money or not,I’m getting desperate

        • Robert,

          The Unemployment Office might be inundated with pending requests. Please visit the website to find the answers.

  9. How do i correct my weekly certification? The last day i worked was 5/26/2018, and i earned money. Just forgot to say yes to the question, did you work the week ending 6/2/2018

    • Mike,

      If you applied online, please log in to explore the option to correct the error. Otherwise, please call the Claims Center for assistance.

  10. I got an update saying the week ending 2/17/18 has not been paid but the week 2/24/18 has been certified and processed the next business day when will i recieve my first check and what does it mean by has not been paid or has it been certified?the week 2/17/18??

    • Amanda,

      Please call the Claims Center to know the exact payment date. They will be able to tell you from the system.

  11. I signed my unemployment papers at my job while we are laid off for the holidays I still haven’t received my unemployment payment. We have been off since the 18th of December. Why haven’t I received it? Do I call it in or them?

    • The system is F up, they are stalling on pay after they the government started it with fake news, to keep the people feeling we need more government to take care of us, trump is telling us it is BS he wears no mask

    • There might be a delay due to the holiday season. I hope you’ve received the payment by now.

      Please call the Claims Center for an update if you haven’t.

  12. I have recently applied for unemployment benefits and received a message that my claim for 9/16/17 was denied. I submitted the job search information but I did not certify it. Could you that be reason that week was denied? At the time, didn’t know to certify weekly job search information. May I certify it now? Thank you.

    • Kristina,

      I suggest you call the Claims Center on the phone numbers provided to ascertain the exact reason and to take preventive actions.

  13. I am working a full time job but not receiving full time hours due to lack of work. I am still working some and it is expected that work will pick back up. When I certify my lack of work every week, do I still need to submit a work search claim?

    • You can apply for partial UI benefits. I am sure that you don’t have to submit the weekly reports. Please check an alternative option (if available) or speak to a representative to clarify.

  14. I was forced to retire from the military last year. Am I eligible to apply and receive benefits until I am employed in the civilian sector?

    • You can be eligible to claim unemployment benefits until you find employment.

      Please consider applying for Unemployment Insurance.

  15. Hi I’ve claimed the past 5 weeks online and this past week ending 10/15 it said it was certified and will be processed next working day now it says report to center was not paid? I’m doin work search and filing everything right. But I never had this happen with the past few weeks.

    • Please speak to the Claims Center on the phone number provided for a precise update on the reason for not honoring the claim.

  16. When I try to put my claim in,it keep sending me back to put my pin in and I do but it still won’t let me file

    • You may be entering an incorrect PIN.

      Please make sure the right credentials are used to avoid lock-out or call the Claims Center for further details.

    • There may be a temp system glitch/hold on your online account.

      Please call the Claims Center on the phone numbers provided for further details.

  17. Claimed unemployment this week(today, monday Nov23) it says it has been certified and will be processed the next busness day. Does this mean I will have the money on my card tomorrow. Or will it just be processed tomorrow for Wednesday.

  18. I filed for benefits on 9-19-15 and have not recived any checks as of
    today 10-26 -15 I need to know the status of what is happening

    • Please consider applying.

      If there was a reduction in the hours worked due to a cut down by your employer, you can be eligible.

    • Please let us know the date and mode of filing.Otherwise,you may also call the claims center helpline to get the most up to date status.
      We are not a govt. organisation and do not have access to specific claims.

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