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THE TOP 12 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
1. Know your rights and responsibilities, and ask for help. Read this handbook carefully to know
your rights and responsibilities. If you have questions or need additional information, visit our
website at dol.georgia.gov or contact your GDOL career center.
2. Follow the rules to avoid committing fraud. Anyone who applies for and receives unemployment
benets is legally responsible for following all unemployment laws and rules. Failure to obey the
law and follow the rules could result in penalties and criminal prosecution.
3. Accurately report the reason you lost your job. Be truthful about the reason for your job
separation.
4. Register for Employment Services. To be eligible to receive unemployment benets, you must
register for Employment Services at worksourcegaportal.com or with the State Workforce Agency
(SWA) in the state where you reside, unless you are exempt by law.
5. Be able to work, available for work and actively seeking work. In order to receive benets, you
must show you are able, available and actively seeking work each week.
6. Remember to claim or certify for your weekly benets. You must claim or certify for at least one
week of benets for a decision to be made regarding your eligibility.
7. Actively search for work and submit your Weekly Work Search Record. To receive benets,
you must show you are continually searching for suitable work each week. You are required to
make at least three new, veriable job search contacts each week; and submit a weekly record
of job search contacts for each week benets are claimed. Failure to submit your Weekly Work
Search Record may result in a denial of benets and a possible overpayment. (See REPORTING
YOUR WORK SEARCH and OVERPAYMENTS.)
8. Submitting your work search records is NOT the same as claiming or certifying for your
weekly benets. These are two different processes. You will receive a conrmation number when
you successfully submit your weekly work search record. You WILL NOT receive a conrmation
number when you claim or certify for your weekly benets.
9. Report any wages you earn while receiving unemployment benets. When you are receiving
unemployment benets, you must report all gross (before taxes) earnings each week, including
part- time or temporary work. All gross earnings must be reported during the week they are earned,
even if you have not received payment. Failure to accurately report income may result in an
overpayment. (See REPORTING YOUR INCOME and OVERPAYMENTS.)
10. Inform the GDOL when you return to work. As soon as you begin working, notify your GDOL
career center. Failure to do so may result in you having to repay any benets you received while
fully employed.
11. Respond timely to all requests from GDOL for information. If you fail to timely respond to
requests for information, your claim or benets may be delayed or denied.
12. Keep your personal contact information updated. If you fail to immediately notify GDOL of
a change in personal contact information, your claim, benets, or requests for appeal may be
delayed or denied. You can update your personal contact information on the GDOL website at dol.
georgia.gov. Use the search eld in the top right corner to locate and select the link for Change
Address and Contact Information.