How to File for Unemployment in North Carolina
How to apply for unemployment in North Carolina, what you need, and what you must do each week to keep getting benefits.
Short answer: Apply online through MyNCUIBenefits at des.nc.gov (the fastest way) or by phone at 888-737-0259. Then file a weekly certification online or by phone for every week you want benefits, starting the week you file, reporting any work, wages and work search activities. North Carolina DES, Guide to Unemployment Insurance Benefits; Unemployment Insurance FAQs
| How to apply | Apply online through MyNCUIBenefits at des.nc.gov (the fastest way) or by phone at 888-737-0259. Then file a weekly certification online or by phone for every week you want benefits, starting the week you file, reporting any work, wages and work search activities. |
|---|---|
| Earnings needed to qualify | You must have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period, and your total wages in at least two quarters must be at least six times the state average weekly insured wage. If you do not have enough wages in the regular base period, an alternative base period of the last four completed calendar quarters is used. |
| Work search requirements | Starting the week you file, contact at least three potential employers each week (different employers, or the same employer for different jobs). One contact can be replaced by attending a job fair or workshop at an NCWorks Career Center or partner agency. Record your work search in your MyNCUIBenefits account before filing your weekly certification, and register with NCWorks (log in at least every 90 days). Keep records, since DES may ask for them. |
| Logging in and filing weekly claims | North Carolina unemployment claimants file weekly certifications (weekly claims for benefits) online through MyNCUIBenefits, run by the NC Division of Employment Security: sign in, open the Action Required box and select the weekly certification option. File within 14 days after each Sunday-Saturday week, even while waiting for an eligibility decision, or you will not be paid for that week; payments can take up to 48 hours to process. UI Support Center: 888-737-0259. |
Where to get help in North Carolina
More North Carolina unemployment benefits
- Logging In to Your North Carolina Unemployment Claim
- Unemployment for Self-Employed and Gig Workers in North Carolina
- Unemployment After Being Fired in North Carolina
- Unemployment After Quitting in North Carolina
- How Much Unemployment Pays in North Carolina
- All North Carolina unemployment benefits rules
FAQ
How do I apply for unemployment in North Carolina?
Apply online through MyNCUIBenefits at des.nc.gov (the fastest way) or by phone at 888-737-0259. Then file a weekly certification online or by phone for every week you want benefits, starting the week you file, reporting any work, wages and work search activities.
How much do you need to have earned to get unemployment in North Carolina?
You must have earned wages in at least two quarters of your base period, and your total wages in at least two quarters must be at least six times the state average weekly insured wage. If you do not have enough wages in the regular base period, an alternative base period of the last four completed calendar quarters is used.
What are the work search requirements for unemployment in North Carolina?
Starting the week you file, contact at least three potential employers each week (different employers, or the same employer for different jobs). One contact can be replaced by attending a job fair or workshop at an NCWorks Career Center or partner agency. Record your work search in your MyNCUIBenefits account before filing your weekly certification, and register with NCWorks (log in at least every 90 days). Keep records, since DES may ask for them.
Where do I log in to my unemployment claim in North Carolina?
North Carolina unemployment claimants file weekly certifications (weekly claims for benefits) online through MyNCUIBenefits, run by the NC Division of Employment Security: sign in, open the Action Required box and select the weekly certification option. File within 14 days after each Sunday-Saturday week, even while waiting for an eligibility decision, or you will not be paid for that week; payments can take up to 48 hours to process. UI Support Center: 888-737-0259.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.