Georgia DOL Implements Two Emergency Rules Affecting Partial Unemployment Claims

As discussed in our previous article, the Georgia Department of Labor (Georgia DOL) has implemented an emergency rule that requires Georgia employers to file partial claims online on behalf of their employees for any week during which an employee (full-time or part-time) works less than his or her regular full-time or part-time schedule due to a partial or total company shutdown caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

On March 26, 2020, the Georgia DOL implemented two additional emergency rules that affect partial unemployment claims during the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency.

First, for claims filed on or after March 29, 2020, an otherwise eligible individual shall be paid the weekly benefit amount, less gross earnings in excess of $300 payable to the individual, applicable to the week for which benefits are claimed. Earnings of $300 or less will not affect entitlement to benefits. In other words, the Georgia DOL is now only deducting earnings above $300 (per week) from the weekly benefit amount for eligible employees.

Second, for claims filed on or after March 14, 2020, the Georgia DOL has extended the maximum benefits payable to an individual from 14 weeks total to 26 weeks total.

Ogletree Deakins will continue to monitor and report on developments with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic and will post updates in the firm’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Center as additional information becomes available. Critical information for employers is also available via the firm’s webinar programs.