What is Unemployment Insurance?
Unemployment benefits are a type a social insurance designated to relieve stress for jobless workers and their families. According to the US Department of Labor, unemployment insurance provides financial benefits to eligible workers
who are unemployed through no fault of their own (US Department of Labor, 2014).
Historically, unemployment insurance was created to not only be a safety net for
those individuals who find themselves unemployed, but also to act as an economic
stimulator. The Center of Budget and Policy Priorities defines
individuals who are eligible for unemployment benefits as
those who "have lost a job through no fault of his or her own; be able to work,
available to work, and actively seeking work; and have earned at least a certain
amount of money during a “base period” prior to becoming unemployed" (The Center
of Budget and Policy Priorities, 2013). The Federal Government gives
individual states the right to set eligibility requirements within the
guidelines of Federal Law.
How does Unemployment work in Georgia and who is
eligible?
According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia employers
pay the entire cost of unemployment insurance benefits in the state. These
payments are made through the State Unemployment Tax as well as the Federal
Unemployment Tax Act. The amount of the tax that a business is required to pay
partly depends on the number of employees that file claims against that
company. The unemployment program in Georgia is administered by the
Department of Labor, operating in adherence to The Employment Security Law of
Georgia; Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.), Title 34, Chapter 8,
Sections 1 through 280 (Georgia Department of Labor). In regards to
eligibility in Georgia, The Employment Security Law requires that services
performed by an individual for wages are to be considered employment subject to
unemployment tax unless and until it is shown that:
"EITHER:
1. (A) Such individual has been and will continue to be free from control or direction over the performance of such services, both under the individual’s contract of service and in fact; and
(B) Such individual is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession, or business; OR
2. Such individual and the services performed for wages are the subject of an SS-8
determination by the Internal Revenue Service, which decided against employee status".
(Georgia Department of Labor, 2014)
Unemployment benefits are a type a social insurance designated to relieve stress for jobless workers and their families. According to the US Department of Labor, unemployment insurance provides financial benefits to eligible workers
who are unemployed through no fault of their own (US Department of Labor, 2014).
Historically, unemployment insurance was created to not only be a safety net for
those individuals who find themselves unemployed, but also to act as an economic
stimulator. The Center of Budget and Policy Priorities defines
individuals who are eligible for unemployment benefits as
those who "have lost a job through no fault of his or her own; be able to work,
available to work, and actively seeking work; and have earned at least a certain
amount of money during a “base period” prior to becoming unemployed" (The Center
of Budget and Policy Priorities, 2013). The Federal Government gives
individual states the right to set eligibility requirements within the
guidelines of Federal Law.
How does Unemployment work in Georgia and who is
eligible?
According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia employers
pay the entire cost of unemployment insurance benefits in the state. These
payments are made through the State Unemployment Tax as well as the Federal
Unemployment Tax Act. The amount of the tax that a business is required to pay
partly depends on the number of employees that file claims against that
company. The unemployment program in Georgia is administered by the
Department of Labor, operating in adherence to The Employment Security Law of
Georgia; Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.), Title 34, Chapter 8,
Sections 1 through 280 (Georgia Department of Labor). In regards to
eligibility in Georgia, The Employment Security Law requires that services
performed by an individual for wages are to be considered employment subject to
unemployment tax unless and until it is shown that:
"EITHER:
1. (A) Such individual has been and will continue to be free from control or direction over the performance of such services, both under the individual’s contract of service and in fact; and
(B) Such individual is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession, or business; OR
2. Such individual and the services performed for wages are the subject of an SS-8
determination by the Internal Revenue Service, which decided against employee status".
(Georgia Department of Labor, 2014)