In response to the COVID-19 crisis the Georgia Department of Labor is suspending all in person services. All unemployment claims must be made online.
Due to an extremely high volume of unemployment claims filed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, individuals may experience a delay in requesting weekly benefit payments.
When it comes to filing unemployment insurance claims, sometimes the Employer must file the claim and there are times when the Employee has to file the claim.
When Do Employers File Claims?
While most people who collect unemployment have lost their jobs entirely. Unemployment benefits are also available to employees who are out of work temporarily. And, the employee may be eligible for benefits even if they are still working. So if an employees hours have been cut or if their pay has been cut they are eligible for partial unemployment benefits.
In these instances employers are required to file the claims on behalf of their full and part-time employees.Any employer found to be in violation of this rule will be required to reimburse GDOL for the full amount of unemployment insurance benefits paid to the employee.
When employers make the claims electronically (online) it will result in employees receiving benefit payments faster, usually within 48 hours.
If the lay offs were a result of the COVID-19 emergency, employees must be expected to return to work after the emergency ends.
Employers should NOT submit claims for employees who:
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are on scheduled/customary vacation, scheduled/customary plant shut down, or scheduled/customary plan closure (O.C.G.A. Section 34-8-195).
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employed by a temporary agency and are currently working at your place of business.
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were employed in another state in the last 18 months.
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were employed with the federal government or on active military service in the last 18 months.
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are 1099 employees.
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are voluntarily out of work, e.g., quits, requested leaves of absence, self-quarantined, etc.
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have been permanently separated from your company.
For complete instructions on how employers file for partial unemployment claims click below
When Do Employees File Claims?
If an employee has been permanently let go from their position and the employer has no intention of rehiring them, then they should make their own unemployment claim.
For complete instructions on how employees file for unemployment click below
