US Department of Labor awards $3M in funding to promote equitable access to unemployment benefits in Georgia

WASHINGTON – To help identify and address barriers workers face when accessing state unemployment insurance benefits, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of more than $3 million to the state of Georgia.

Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration, equity grants support states’ efforts to remove barriers related to race, age, ethnicity, language proficiency, disability status, geographic location or other issues that make it hard for people to access unemployment insurance benefits.

Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the equity grant will enable Georgia to rewrite in plain language its unemployment claim application and related documents in English and other preferred languages. Funds will also be used by the state to establish a mobile unit to reach residents in Georgia in need of unemployment insurance services who have limited or no internet access.

In August 2021, the department notified state workforce agencies of the availability of up to $260 million for projects that promote equitable access to unemployment compensation programs. The State of Georgia submitted its final application before the department’s July 14, 2023, deadline for equity grants. To date, the department has announced more than $219 million in grant awards to 45 states and the District of Columbia.