The federal government as well as the state of Georgia have ensured that unemployed individuals are provided with a myriad of ways to secure unemployment income. However, with all of the federal extensions as well as payments that are tied to state unemployment rates, the benefits can sometimes be hard to figure out. Here is an explanation of unemployment insurance benefits in the state of Georgia.
Standard Georgia Unemployment Benefits
The standard unemployment period in Georgia is 26 weeks long and offers temporary income to workers who have lost their job through no fault of their own. This means that they were laid off or terminated due to company policies or economic difficulties. People who voluntarily resign from their jobs or are fired due to violating company policies, such as failing a drug test, are not eligible for unemployment benefits. At the end of the 26 week period, individuals who are still unemployed are automatically enrolled in the first level of extended unemployment benefits.
First Extension – First Tier Emergency Unemployment Compensation
Also referred to as the First Tier EUC, this extension provides an additional 20 weeks of unemployment benefits to unemployed Georgians. As explained on the Georgia Department of Labor website, in order receive this extension workers must first exhaust their 26 weeks of standard unemployment. At the end of the 26 weeks of standard unemployment, workers will receive a letter stating that they are being automatically enrolled in the first tier extension.
Second Extension – Second Tier Emergency Unemployment Compensation
As of October of 2009, the unemployment rate in Georgia stands at 10.1%, ranking it as the ninth highest state in terms of unemployment. Because Georgia is considered a high unemployment state, workers are eligible for a second tier extension of unemployment benefits. This extension kicks in after the first extension ends and provides for an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits. At the end of the 13 weeks, workers receive a letter stating that they are being automatically enrolled in the second tier extension.
Third Extension – State Extended Benefits (SEB)
On April 21 2009, using federal stimulus money, Governor Sonny Purdue signed into effect the State Extended Benefits law. This extension is available to individuals who have exhausted regular unemployment, as well as the first and second extension periods. It provides for an additional 20 weeks of unemployment benefits, however unlike the first two extensions, unemployed workers must apply for this program.
When the number of weeks available during the standard unemployment period is added to the three available extensions, Georgian workers become eligible for a total of 79 weeks, or a little over a year, of unemployment benefits. This number may increase if additional federal money is made available for additional extensions of benefits.
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Kimberly Johnson - Christina Jones is an experienced freelance writer who contributes articles to many different websites and publications.
