Summary of Unemployment Eligibility and Benefits in NC

In 2013, the North Carolina General Assembly drastically cut benefits for individuals who lost their jobs.  Here are a few things you should know about the unemployment insurance benefit in North Carolina if you have recently become separated from your employer and are considering filing a claim for benefits:

Prerequisites

  • File a claim for unemployment benefits
  • Must have been paid a minimum amount of wages based on your individual situation preceding the filing of the claim
  • Register for work

Eligibility

  • You are not eligible if you left work for any reason other than good cause attributable to your employer, which means you cannot receive benefits if you:
    • Voluntarily resigned or abandoned your position; or
    • Were terminated for engaging in misconduct relating to your work
      • Examples:  Reporting to work impaired by alcohol or drugs; theft; making inappropriate comments; physical violence or threats at work; violation of written absenteeism policy; refusal to perform assigned tasks

Benefit Amount

  • The MAXIMUM weekly gross benefit amount is $350.00, but the amount you receive will be based on the wages you have earned prior to becoming unemployed.

Benefit Duration

  • The minimum and maximum duration of your benefits is tied to the unemployment rate in North Carolina.  Currently, North Carolina’s rate of unemployment is 6.3%.  The following schedule determines the benefit duration:

    Seasonal Adjusted                         Minimum Number      Maximum Number                               Unemployment Rate                             of Weeks                             of Weeks

    Less than or equal to 5.5%                                    5                                                 12

    Greater than 5.5% up to 6%                                  6                                                 13

    Greater than 6% up to 6.5%                                  7                                                 14

    Greater than 6.5% up to 7%                                  8                                                 15

    Greater than 7% up to 7.5%                                   9                                                 16

    Greater than 7.5% up to 8%                                  10                                                17

    Greater than 8% up to 8.5%                                  11                                                18

    Greater than 8.5% up to 9%                                  12                                                19

    Greater than 9%                                                      13                                                20

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