Filing for Unemployment as a Federal Employee
If you're a federal employee who has recently lost your job due to federal worker separations, you may qualify for unemployment benefits. This page helps outline your eligibility requirements and steps to apply, including the necessary documents, how to file your claim, and information on the appeals process. Keep reading to learn how to get started.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for unemployment benefits due to the recent federal worker separations, you must meet the following criteria:
- Recent Federal Employment: You must have been employed by the federal government and are now unemployed due to a separation.
- State Determination: Eligibility for benefits is determined by the state (last duty station) where you last worked as a federal employee.
- Documents: You will need to provide proof of your federal employment, including forms such as wage information (W-2, LES or pay stubs from past 18 months), SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action), and/or SF-8 (Notice to Federal Employee About Unemployment Benefits).
How to Apply for Benefits:
- Required Documents: When filing your claim, you will need to submit your federal wages and separation details. This may include pay stubs or official documents from your federal agency.
- Online Application: Go to des.nc.gov and create your MyNCUIBenefits account to begin filing for benefits. Have your personal information and supporting documents ready.
- Identity Verification: Employees applying for benefits may also need to verify their identity. If you’re asked to do so, there are two options to do this. Read more here. Federal workers asked to take this step may already have an ID.me account and may skip full verification. They just need to go into their ID.me account, use a valid email address (i.e., not their government email) and give consent to share information with DES. ID.me provides a tutorial for this.
- Submit Affidavit of Wages: To complete your claim, you will be required to submit a Claimant's Affidavit, which includes information about your federal service and reason for separation.
Important Notes:
- Wages: Proof of your wages is required. You will receive an initial wage transcript from DES which will not show your federal wages. Please do not file a wage protest. DES will use your wage documentation and contact the federal agency for your wages. Once your federal wages have been added, you will receive an updated wage transcript.
- Severance: Be sure to include any severance or separation pay you get after being separated from your job. This is crucial to determining your weekly benefit amount.
- Appeals: If you disagree with the decision made on your claim, you have the right to appeal. Information about the appeals process will be provided during your claim submission.
FAQ: Federal Worker Separations
If you are a federal employee whose job has ended due to a federal separation, you may be able to get unemployment benefits. Here are some common questions we get:
A: Yes, if you’ve lost your job due to the federal separations, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. You can apply for benefits starting the day your job ended. Your eligibility will depend on the state’s unemployment laws.
A: If you’re a federal worker who has experienced a job separation, you should file for unemployment benefits with the state (last duty station) where you last worked.
A: If your last duty station was in North Carolina, you can file your claim online at des.nc.gov. If your duty station is in another state, you can find contact information at: www.servicelocator.org.
A: To avoid delays, federal employees will need to have these documents ready:
- SF-8 (Notice to Federal Employee About Unemployment Benefits)
- SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action)
- Wage information (W-2, LES or pay stubs from the past 18 months)
A: Yes, if you’re filing in North Carolina, you must complete at least three job search contacts each week you’re claiming benefits.
A: Benefits are determined by your earnings within a 12-month base period. In North Carolina, the maximum weekly benefit is $350. You can get benefits for up to 12 weeks.
A: You must look for work, contact three different employers, be able and available, and complete a certification each week to get paid. You MUST file a weekly certification within 14 days after each week (Sunday-Saturday), or you won’t get paid for that week. File your certifications every week. You should file even if you are still waiting to see if you will get benefits. This will allow you to get payments for weeks that you were eligible.
A: No, the first week you’re eligible for benefits is a mandatory unpaid waiting week. Filing your weekly certifications and meeting other weekly requirements are mandatory to get unemployment benefits. To get unemployment benefits, you must file your weekly certifications and meet other weekly requirements.