If you are one of the people in Georgia who are unemployed, you need to file for your Georgia unemployment benefits. The benefits are designed to help you by getting money into your bank account so you can take care of your bills. It is very important for you to file for benefits just as soon as you can. Claims are effective as of the date they are filed and are not retroactive. Even after you file a claim, you will still need to wait a week before the benefits kick in.

Your eligibility for unemployment benefits is based on your past income, reason you are out of work, and your availability for new work. You are required to search for work every week while you collect benefits. You can only file for claims at a Georgia Department of Labor Career Center, which is sometimes called the Georgia unemployment office. Go to the website www.dol.state.ga.us/find_career_centers.htm to locate the address and the phone center of a Career Center near you.

When you file for Georgia unemployment benefits, you will need to provide your social security number. If your employer provided you a separation letter or notice, be sure to bring it with you. You will also need to bring the name and addresses of your employers for the previous 18 months and the dates you worked for each. To take advantage of the convenience of direct deposit, bring a personal check with your account number and bank routing number.

Remember that after you file your initial claim you need to file weekly claims. The state of Georgia provides three ways for you to file your weekly claim for Georgia unemployment benefits. You can file over the telephone using the voice response system called OLIVoR. In the metro Atlanta area, you can reach OLIVoR by dialing 404-232-4290. If you are outside of the metro Atlanta area, you can dial 1-866-873-5676. You can visit www.dol.state.ga.us to file your claim for benefits online. You can also visit a Career Center to file.

If you disagree with a decision regarding your claim for unemployment benefits, you have the right to appeal. You have 15 days after the date the decision is released to file the appeal. The appeal will be conducted by an administrative hearing officer. A Career Center operated by the Georgia Department of Labor can assist you with filing the appeal.

One of your responsibilities as someone collecting unemployment benefits is to look for suitable work. It is a good idea to set up a spreadsheet which includes the date, name and address of the person you contacted, and the type of job your were seeking. Include the method you used to contact the person, whether it was by e-mail, in person, or telephone. You should also put in the results of your search as well as whether you sent a resume or application. Forms are available online or a Career Center. Somebody at the Georgia Department of Labor could ask to see your spreadsheet at any time.

No Comments

No comments yet.

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.