Backlog Of Appeals For Unemployment Benefits Collides With Georgia Evictions

Many people who call Mary Irene Dickerson at Atlanta Legal Aid have issues with evictions. But then the lawyer learns that some of them are still waiting for unemployment benefits and can’t pay rent.

“We are seeing lots and lots of people that are not getting their unemployment benefits, and they deserve them,” she said.

They’re often people whose initial claims for unemployment were denied, but have appealed the decision. As of last week, 38,698 Georgians had such appeals pending, according the state Department of Labor.