How to Apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
Authored By:
Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc.
Contents
Transcript
If your work or ability to work is affected by the Covid-19 crisis, but you do not qualify for regular Unemployment Insurance, you can now apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
This includes:
-people who cannot work due to Covid-19 (like caring for children at home),
-people who are self-employed,
-independent contractors, gig workers and more.
Apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance using the Georgia Unemployment Insurance application.
At this time in Georgia, you can only apply for unemployment insurance online at dol.ga.gov or by calling your local career center. Once you complete the application and it is processed, you will get a letter stating whether you are approved or denied for regular unemployment benefits.
If you are denied state unemployment, starting April 22nd, the Department of Labor will then send an email with a link or a letter with the Pandemic unemployment assistance application.
The pandemic unemployment application will ask you questions about your earnings from 2019. The department of labor will work to verify your earnings with the Department of Revenue. If they cannot, you will need to provide proof of your income in 2019.
Once your earnings are verified, your PUA application will be processed and you will get a PUA benefits determination letter in the mail, telling you your weekly benefits amount.
If you have already filed an Unemployment Claim, you do not have to file again. The Department of Labor will send you an email with a link where you can provide the additional income information. To learn more about applying for Pandemic unemployment assistance, visit dol.ga.gov/PUA
Learn more at Georgialegalaid.org
Get help
If you are having problems applying or getting your claim processed, contact the GDOL:
- Make an appointment through the GDOL online appointent scheduler.
- Call the UI Customer Service line at:
- 404-232-3001
- 877-709-8185
- Email the GDOL
Contact Atlanta Legal Aid or Georgia Legal Services
- For help in Fulton, Clayton, Cobb, Gwinnett, or DeKalb County, contact Atlanta Legal Aid. Fill out the Atlanta Legal Aid online intake application or call 404-524-5811 (main line), 404-657-9915 (GA Senior Legal Hotline), to see if you qualify for legal assistance.
- If you live in any other Georgia county, contact the Georgia Legal Services Program for help. Access the GLSP online intake application or call 1-833-457-7529 to see if you qualify for legal assistance.
Resources
- Learn more about applying for PUA on the GDOL website.
- Read our article "Georgia Covid-19 Resources" to learn more about applying for unemployment.