A release from the state Department of Labor says the department has received and documented 92 percent of the claims filed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the middle of march, it has processed more than 1.3 million regular initial unemployment claims.
Some 62 percent of those filing have already received their first payment. Department statistics show usually only 40 to 50 percent of initial claims are eligible.
Those with invalid claims could still be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. They include individuals who are self-employed, gig workers, independent contractors, church employees, nonprofit employees and people with limited work histories. 41,000 people in those categories have been approved for payment.
Georgia has paid out $388 million in regular unemployment benefits over the past six weeks and over $700 million in federal funds.
