[ April 13, 2020 ] In most of our lives we have never been through anything like this. I am amazed at our friends and community members who are keeping our region moving and safe. I have recovered from my bout with possibly the virus thanks to Marcia?s great care. It is hard to put yourself in someone?s shoes, in doing their jobs, but I have had a lot of time to think about some of this sitting around with Marcia here at Apple Valley Farm. I know we are incredibly thankful for what our healthcare folks have done and are doing as you read this, an Amazing dedication to their calling.

I was just on a conference call with all our Public Safety /First Responding folks, listening to the issues they have had to work through. I want to let you know they are on it and so dedicated to keeping us safe during this time.

We have had a number of calls about unemployment / Georgia Dept of Labor and getting through by phone or other issues with them. I know they are working very hard to try to meet the needs of Georgia. During the last few years as unemployment has been going down, they have been reducing the number of folks working in that area as you would think they should, never dreaming that a pandemic would take place. They have been working day and night responding to the needs of our state. To help so many of you, I looked into the two programs that affect our unemployed folks, and here is some info that may help.

The Georgia Department of Labor is updating its current systems to distribute federal unemployment funds as part of the Federal CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security), bringing economic relief to many Georgians.

The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, or FPUC, provides a $600 supplement per week to any individual eligible for any of the Unemployment Compensation programs ? State and Federal. The GDOL will begin sending this additional payment to those currently receiving state unemployment benefits beginning next week. This supplement will be an additional payment to regular weekly state unemployment benefits and will include all eligible weeks beginning with the week ending April 4, 2020. The supplement amount is contingent upon any deductions required by the state or federal government.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or PUA, is the program that will provide unemployment benefits to those not ordinarily eligible for them. This includes individuals who are self-employed, gig workers, 1099 independent contractors, employees of churches, employees of nonprofits, or those with limited work history who will not qualify for state unemployment benefits. The GDOL is modifying its current online unemployment application, adding new questions to better identify those individuals who may be eligible for PUA. Once the application is received, it will take several weeks to process.

The additional questions in the application will help determine qualified applicants to continue the process for PUA benefits, including a different set of wage verifications and a different process for certification of wage benefits. The GDOL is partnering with the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR), if given authorization by the applicant, to assist with wage verification simplifying the process for PUA applicants.

If GDOL is unable to verify wages with DOR, applicants may be asked to provide documentation to prove wages. The past wages used to establish your PUA claim may use income not normally covered by regular state unemployment, such as contract labor or self-employment earnings.
I know that that was technical, but wanted to make it clear for all. The Dept. of Labor has a good website that can answer most questions. GDOL COVID-19 INFORMATION, and their phone is 1-877-709-8185. If possible, try online first.

I am feeling a lot better these days, and due to Marcia?s great nursing care I am recovered but careful. SO please don?t hesitate to call me if I can cut through red tape for you. You know that?s one of the reasons why I like doing this job.

You can call me by way of my Administrative assistant Lisa Fountain at 404-656-7153 or call me at home at 770-893-2039 or by email at rick.jasperse@house.ga.gov. Thank you for the opportunity to serve You and Georgia. Wash those hands