While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Unemployment Insurance is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. Unemployment Insurance is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own.
Learn more about Unemployment on North Carolina’s Unemployment Program Overview page here.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits are weekly payments given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments are typically provided via direct deposits to the beneficiary’s bank account.
Learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in North Carolina, you must:
You can learn more about North Carolina’s requirements to qualify for Unemployment Insurance here.
Apply for benefits online here during the week you are seeking payment, when your hours have been reduced or when you are no longer employed. Do NOT wait until the week is over.
Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in North Carolina, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
2. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online, in person, or over the phone.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access North Carolina’s Unemployment claim portal. To apply for Unemployment Insurance over the phone, call (888) 737-0259.
3. Submit the Unemployment application, which is also known as filing a claim.
If you have questions about the application process, require assistance, or would like to apply for benefits over the phone, contact the North Carolina Division of Employment Security (DES) Customer Call Center Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM at:
For more information about the application process, click here.
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for in North Carolina. To determine how much an applicant will receive in Unemployment Benefits each week, the North Carolina Department of Employment Security (DES) takes your total wages in the two most recent quarters, divides this figure by 52 and rounds down to the next whole dollar amount.
The maximum weekly benefit amount (WBA) is $350.
For more information about how Unemployment Insurance payments are calculated, click here.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements.
If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
2. Start Looking for Work*
Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least two contacts per week to receive payments and waiting week credit.
3. Discuss Possible Issues
If you were discharged or quit your last job, expect a call (or email if that is your preferred contact method) to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance.
You can learn more about what to expect after applying here.
You must file a Weekly Certification Application every week you are receiving Unemployment Benefits until you are employed again. This weekly claim is like a follow-up application that certifies your continued eligibility for the program, and proves you are actively applying for new jobs.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here. File your Weekly Certification Applications here. You can also file your weekly claims by phone at (888) 372-3453.
It’s important to remember that your benefits may be denied or delayed if you fail to file your weekly claim.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal with the North Carolina Division of Employment Security (DES). The determination letter you receive will state the last day you can file an appeal.
To file an appeal online, sign into your Unemployment Insurance benefits account here.
For more information about the appeal and hearing process, click here.
If you have general questions about North Carolina Unemployment Benefits, call the North Carolina Division of Employment Security (DES) Customer Call Center at (888) 737-0259.
Contact your local Unemployment Office or visit an office in person. Find DES contact information here.
Find answers to other topics related to Unemployment Insurance on the DES FAQs page here.
The North Carolina Division of Employment Security is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM, except for observed holidays listed here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
If you have general questions about North Carolina Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the North Carolina Division of Employment Security’s (DES) Customer Call Center at (888) 737-0259.
You can submit a question online using the Customer Contact Form here.
If you have questions about appeals or would like to submit an appeal to the DES, you can reach the appeals line at (919) 707-1060.
You can reach the DES by fax at (919) 857-1296 or by mail at:
Division of Employment Security
of P.O. Box 25903
Raleigh, NC 27611-5903
The North Carolina Division of Employment Security’s (DES) is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM, except for observed holidays listed here.
You may want to contact your local Unemployment Insurance office before visiting the location to perform any services. Find your local unemployment office and all contact information in the chart below.
| Location | Address | Phone Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 245 Shepherd Trail Aberdeen, NC 28315 | 910-944-7697 | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Boone | 207 Winklers Creek Road Suite 1 Boone, NC 28607 |
828-265-5385 | M, Tu, W, Th: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM F: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
| Cary | 742-F East Chatham St. Cary, NC 27511 |
919-469-1406 | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Chapel Hill | 503 West Franklin St. Chapel Hill, NC 27516 |
919-968-2031 | M, Tu, W, Th: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM F: 8:30 AM – 4:45 PM |
| Charlotte | 5601 Executive Center Drive Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28212 |
704-566-2870 | M, Tu, W, Th: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM F: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
| Dunn | 214 W Edgerton Street Dunn, NC 28334 |
910-891-2915 | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Durham | 1105 S. Briggs Avenue Durham, NC 27703 |
919-560-6880 | M, Tu, W, Th: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM F: 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM |
| Edenton | 300 North Virginia Road Edenton, NC 27932 |
252-482-2195 | 8:00 AM -4:30 PM |
| Fayetteville | 414 Ray Avenue Fayetteville, NC 28301 | 910-486-1010 | M, Tu, W, F: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Th: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Forest City | 139 East Trade Street Forest City, NC 28043 |
828-245-9841 | 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Greensboro | 2005 B South Elm-Eugene Street Greensboro, NC 27406 |
336-334-5777 | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| High Point | 607 Idol Street High Point, NC 27262 |
336-882-4141 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| New Bern | 2836 Neuse Boulevard New Bern, NC 28560 |
252-514-4828 | 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Raleigh | 220 Swinburne St, Raleigh, NC 27610 | 919-250-3770 | M, W, Th: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Tu: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM F: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
| Wilmington | 717 Market Street Wilmington, NC 28401 |
910-251-5777 | 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Winston-Salem | 450 West Hanes Mill Road Suite 101 Winston Salem, NC 27105 |
336-776-6720 | M, Tu, W, Th: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM F: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM |
To find more information on North Carolina Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim online:
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in North Carolina, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access North Carolina’s Unemployment claim portal. To apply for Unemployment Insurance over the phone, call (888) 737-0259.
If you have questions about the application process, require assistance, or would like to apply for benefits over the phone, contact the North Carolina Division of Employment Security (DES) Customer Call Center Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM at:
For more information about the application process, click here.
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance, you can check the status of your claim by logging into the Unemployment Insurance online benefits system here.
You can also call the Customer Call Center at 1 (888) 737-0259 Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
You will not begin receiving Unemployment Benefits immediately after submitting the application. By law, you must wait one week before finding out whether you will begin receiving benefits. This is called the Waiting Week.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week here.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal with the North Carolina Division of Employment Security (DES). The determination letter you receive will state the last day you can file an appeal.
To file an appeal online, sign into your Unemployment Insurance benefits account here.
For more information about the appeal and hearing process, click here.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the North Carolina Division of Employment Security (DES) Customer Call Center at (888) 737-0259.
You can also visit or call a local Unemployment Office for further assistance. Find DES contact information here.
The North Carolina Division of Employment Security (DES) Customer Call Center is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM, except for observed holidays listed here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
