In the state of Georgia, individuals who are currently unemployed and do not pass drug testing could potentially lose out on the unemployment benefits that they normally would receive due to a new policy that is being put in place by the Labor Department. This does not mean that jobless individuals will be forced to take a drug test. It simply means that businesses are asked to inform the Labor Department of people who are failing drug tests when applying for jobs. With so many people in the country filing for unemployment, there has been a lot of strain for each of the different states, as they are trying to find ways to afford to pay these unemployment benefits to the record number of individuals who have applied for them.

Many people are in support of the new policy and believe that it is necessary to cut off the cash flow of unemployment benefits for those who are using drugs. The supporters believe that it would help to release a lot of that unwanted pressure that the states are dealing with. It will also help to put a stop to people who are doing fraudulent things as a way of receiving such benefits. Many people try to defraud the system. This is the kind of thing that has also been discussed about using for those who receive welfare assistance.

In order for individuals to receive unemployment benefits, they must be seeking work on a regular basis. They need to make sure that they are available for any type of employment that they can find. If the individual refuses to take a drug test or fails the drug test in order to get a job, they are violating the agreement terms of the unemployment benefits and therefore, they will end up losing out on the benefits that they were receiving. The approach that Georgia is taking is said to be quite unique but it is ideal and many other states may begin to follow suit, especially because it can end up helping them to save hundreds and thousands of dollars each year.

The United States Labor Department defended the decision that has been made about the policy, believing that they have the right to deny people of unemployment benefits if they are using drugs, especially since the use of drugs could be the major reason as to why they are unemployed in the first place. Many other states have thought about requiring drug tests to be taken for people who are looking for any type of public assistance, which would include both unemployment benefits as well as all aspects of welfare assistance, ranging from cash assistance to food stamps and much more.