Learn How To Apply For Unemployment Claims With Our Guide

Learn How To Apply For Unemployment Claims With Our Guide

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Unemployment insurance eligibility in North Dakota is determined by specific regulations set forth by the state and the federal government. Both initial ND eligibility for unemployment and eligibility after you have been accepted into the North Dakota program are determined by these rules.

The basic factors determining eligibility involve how you were separated from your work, your ability to work, your availability to work, your continued looking for work and your willingness to accept a job for which you are reasonably qualified.

We have compiled helpful information, hints, and tips about qualifying for unemployment benefits in North Dakota on this website and FAQs and our free guide. Read more below to learn about who can qualify for unemployment in North Dakota.

Covered Employment and Separation from Work in North Dakota

Eligibility for EDD in North Dakota involves the claimant’s meeting certain conditions which ensure that unemployment insurance payments are made only to individuals eligible to receive aid. To meet some of these qualifications for unemployment, the applicant must have worked for an employer who is under the North Dakota Unemployment Insurance program.

As a general rule, these employers are required to pay unemployment insurance taxes on the wages paid out. As such, these employers are considered “covered.” Please note that not all employers are considered liable or covered companies.

An applicant who qualifies for unemployment in North Dakota may receive unemployment insurance coverage if he or she is not working, or only working part-time, earning less his or her weekly benefit amount. A claimant may be eligible for unemployment if they were laid off from the previous job, or quit with good cause.

Required Work Availability to Receive Unemployment in North Dakota

For candidates who do not know how to qualify for unemployment, a main contributing factor to eligibility requires the former worker to be physically able to work at the time he or she files a claim. If the petitioner becomes ill or disabled after filing a claim is otherwise are unable to work, he or she must notify the Claims Center immediately. In some instances, he or she may be allowed to continue receiving benefits.

Another eligibility for EDD benefits requires a petitioner who is returning to the employer who laid them off to be available for recall upon the employer’s request. If an unemployment claim candidate is not returning to the employer who laid him or her off, he or she is required to search for work and make job contacts.

Applicants do not meet qualifications for unemployment if they lack appropriate means of transportation or child care, or are out of the area for a vacation or personal matters other than seeking out employment.

Job-Seeking Requirements for Unemployment in North Dakota

If an unemployment registration applicant is not returning to the employer that laid him or her off, he or she must complete at least one online resume within 10 days of filing or reopening a claim. If the claimant is not able to complete a resume by the due date, he or she must contact the Claims Center.

Job Service North Dakota will consider the applicant’s reasons for failing to complete the resume in a timely manner and determine whether the eligibility for unemployment is in good standing. The resume should highlight the former worker’s skills, employment background, and education. Should the claimant need assistance in creating a resume, he or she can go to the nearest Job Search North Dakota office.

Other qualifications for unemployment state that the former employee must actively search for work each week he or she wants to receive benefits, including the “waiting week.” The petitioner must make a minimum of two acceptable job contacts in each calendar week. Job Service North Dakota may assign more contacts per week.

Job contacts contribute to unemployment insurance eligibility if they are with an identifiable employer, are verifiable and are for positions the UI beneficiary would be willing to accept. The selection of job contacts is verified by Job Service.

A record of each job contact should be made on the Job Contacts Record form. The claimant is required to keep a record of all of his or her job contacts for one year.

Suitable Work and Returning to Work

A job-seekers unemployment insurance eligibility requires the applicant to search for a suitable job or one with the skills and abilities he or she possesses. Work is considered unsuitable for the applicant if it presents a degree of risk to his or her health, safety and morals, or is not compatible with prior training and experience unless the prior work does not exist in their labor market area.

Furthermore, those who file for an unemployment claim cannot apply for work if it is outside his or her labor market area unless opportunities for employment do not exist within the area or is unemployed because of a strike or labor dispute. If an applicant receives a job offer and wants to maintain eligibility for EDD, but does not want to continue making further job contacts, he or she must submit a letter or email from the new employer, or a copy of the offer letter.

After Job Service receives the letter, they will make a decision as to whether the claimant needs to continue making job contacts. The applicant may still be able to receive unemployment insurance coverage until he or she begins the new job, even if offered a position that is not starting immediately.

Eligibility Reviews and Reemployment Services

For applicants asking how to qualify for unemployment, they will be required to complete monthly “Eligibility Reviews.” The reviews take place online and involve an initial orientation. After that, the claimant needs to answer a series of questions to determine if they meet the requirements to receive unemployment insurance benefits.

Applicants must enter job contacts for the review period. A UI petitioner who is late completing his or her eligibility review may be denied unemployment payment for the week(s) they are late.

Candidates should contact the Claims Center if they are unable to complete the Eligibility Review prior to the due date. A job contact for the same position cannot be counted more than once, and an employer can only be listed as a contact twice during each four-week eligibility review period.

Last Updated: February 28, 2023