North Carolina Division of Employment Security
The Division of Employment Security is working hard to help North Carolinians understand unemployment insurance and receive the benefits for which they are eligible. If you have questions or need assistance with your claim:
- Find out the status of your claim at any time by phone or by clicking on the Claim Status tab in your online account.
- Chat with one of our agents here at des.nc.gov or call our Customer Call Center for assistance.
- Check our website frequently for updated FAQs and information for individuals and employers.
Please note that NCWorks Career Centers do not process unemployment claims, and staff at those offices cannot answer specific questions about your claim.
Online Account Access
Create Account
Individuals: Create an Online Account to file for unemployment.
Employers: Create an Online Account to manage your tax and unemployment information.
Online Account Help
News and Alerts
DES Continues to Implement Additional Federal Unemployment Benefits
The North Carolina Division of Employment Security (DES) is continuing to roll out provisions of the federal Continued Assistance Act signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020.
- All claimants who are receiving benefits for weeks ending on or after Jan. 2, 2021, are receiving an additional $300 in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) on top of their regular weekly benefit amount.
- Claimants who had a remaining balance of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) benefits when the programs expired on Dec. 26, 2020, have continued to receive benefits without a gap in payments.
- Claimants who previously exhausted Pandemic Unemployment Assistance are now receiving payments under the 11-week extension to PUA benefits.
- DES is working to:
- Reprogram its benefits system to add the 11-week extension of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits for claimants who previously exhausted PEUC.
- Implement the new Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) program and other provisions of the Continued Assistance Act.
Claimants to Receive 1099-G Forms
By Jan. 31, all individuals who received unemployment benefits during 2020 should receive an IRS Form 1099-G from the Division of Employment Security. This statement reports the total amount of benefits paid to the claimant in the previous calendar year for tax purposes. All claimants are notified by DES when filing a claim that unemployment benefits are taxable income and must be reported on federal and state tax returns. Claimants may elect to have state and/or federal taxes withheld from their benefit payments. 1099-G forms will be delivered by Jan. 31 to claimants by mail or email, as preferred by the claimant, and will also be available to download through their DES online account.
Duration of State Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Under state law, the number of weeks an individual may receive state unemployment insurance benefits depends on the seasonal adjusted statewide unemployment rate that applies to the time period when the claim was filed. As a result, people whose claims are effective on or after Jan. 3, 2021, may receive up to 16 weeks of state unemployment insurance benefits. People whose claims were effective prior to Jan. 3, 2021, may receive up to 12 weeks of state unemployment insurance benefits.
ID.me Identity Verification
Did you receive notification from the North Carolina Division of Employment Security (DES) asking you to verify your identity through ID.me? If so, you will need to verify your identity through ID.me in order to access your unemployment claim. Learn more here.
Employers: Paycheck Protection Program
Employers who received a Paycheck Protection Program loan should use the following Earnings Report Form to report to the Division of Employment Security payments they made to employees under the program.
Employer Earnings Report Form Additional Page
DES Proposed Rules
Notice is hereby given in accordance with G.S. 150B-21.2 that the Department of Commerce - Division of Employment Security intends to adopt the rules cited as 04 NCAC 24D .0201, .0206, amend the rules cited as 04 NCAC 24D .0102, .0202, .0203; 24F .0304, and repeal the rules cited as 04 NCAC 24D .0103-.0106; and 24F .0303. The notice of text of the proposed rules is found on the Laws and Rules page.