North Dakota Unemployment Benefits

Unemployed people in North Dakota can receive Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits if they have lost their job through no fault of their own. North Dakota Job Service handles the UI program and is funded by employers. On this page, we will guide you the eligibility requirements you must meet to receive North Dakota unemployment benefits. We will also guide you about benefits overpayment and job training in the state.

Eligibility To Apply For UI Benefits In North Dakota

You must meet eligibility criteria such as monetary requirements and job separation to receive unemployment benefits in North Dakota.

Monetary Eligibility

To be monetarily eligible to receive North Dakota unemployment benefits, Your wages in the entire base period must be at least 1.5 times your wages in the highest-paid quarter of your base period. You must also have paid wages in at least two-quarters of your base period.
In North Dakota, the standard base period is the first four of the five complete calendar quarters before the start date of your unemployment claim.

Find out more about eligibility requirements

Job Separation

You must also meet job separation requirements to qualify for the North Dakota Unemployment Insurance. The requirements include:

• You lost your job through no fault of your own
• You quit your job because you were unable to work due to a medical condition
• You quit your job because of unsafe working conditions
• You quit your job because of harassment at your workplace

Note – North Dakota Job Service may contact your employer to determine the actual reason for your job separation. If the Job Service finds out that the employer’s explanation contrasts yours, you may be disqualified from receiving benefits.

Eligibility requirements – overview

Maintaining Eligibility

You should maintain your eligibility throughout your benefit year to continue to receive benefits. You can maintain your eligibility in the following ways:

• Actively looking for a job
• Being able and available to work
• Accepting a suitable job
• Maintaining and submitting your work search records
• Registering with jobsnd.com
• Filing weekly claims

Note –

A job will not be considered suitable if:

• It poses a risk to your health or involves working in an unsafe workplace
• It is incompatible with your prior training and experience and training
• It is made for obtaining self-employment

You can reject job opportunities if you don’t know the employer’s identity or the person in-contact does not have hiring capability.

Find out on job search requirements

How To Apply For UI Benefits in North Dakota?

To apply for North Dakota unemployment benefits, you need the following documents:

You can apply for unemployment benefits in North Dakota through any of the following methods:

Online

The easiest way to apply for North Dakota unemployment benefits is online. Visit jobsnd.com and click “Unemployment Benefits.” The page will redirect to the “Log into UI ICE” page. Create your credentials and login into your account.

Note – While using UI ICE, press Save/Continue every 30 minutes before logging off. Doing so will save your data even if you close your browser mistakenly or face an internet issue.

Telephone

You can file for unemployment benefits by phone (701-328-4995) using the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone system. Note that the system will ask several questions to confirm your identity and unemployment status.
If you are disconnected when filing a claim, call back during the same week and resume from where you left off. But if you are disconnected during the certification, call again immediately and repeat your information.

How to File Weekly Claims?

Weekly certification is used to verify that you were unemployed during the week and qualify to receive a benefit payment. In North Dakota, you can file weekly claims online or by phone.

When Should You Certify?

You must certify your weekly claims:

• After the week has ended
• Within 13 days of the Saturday of the week in which you began your unemployment claim, or within 13 days of the Saturday of the last week you certified previously
• By 10 p.m. on the 13th day

Note – You will not receive benefits for weeks you skipped the certification.

Learn how to claim weekly benefits

UI Benefits Amount

Your estimated weekly benefit amount will be the total of your highest two and one-half quarters of the base period wages divided by 65. The maximum and the minimum benefit amounts are subject to change each July. Visit the Unemployment Benefit Chart to check out the approximate benefit amounts.

Know more about the Benefits Calculator

Things To Know After Filing An Application

There are many aspects that you must know to collect benefits without any inconvenience.

Overpayment and Fraud

Sometimes, you may receive an overpayment of benefits. Overpayments occur due to administrative errors, disqualification, or fraudulent practices.
You will have to pay back overpaid unemployment benefits regardless of whether you received them through non-fraudulent or fraudulent practices. You can repay the overpayments either through the mail or check. If you face trouble during the process, contact North Dakota Job Service.

Fraud/ Willful Misrepresentation

If you receive overpayments due to fraudulent practices, you will have to pay a 15% penalty of your total overpayment, be disqualified from receiving benefits, and also be subject to criminal prosecution.

Benefits Extension

Usually, the state of North Dakota provides benefits for up to 26 weeks. However, if the unemployment rate is too high or there is an economic downturn, it may provide extended benefits. Contact North Dakota Job Service to know more about the benefits extension programs.

Job Training Assistance

North Dakota Job Service provides workforce and unemployment services to job seekers across the state in its nine Workforce Centers and at the Central location in Bismarck, ND.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) – This program provides education, job training, and employment services to eligible adults and dislocated workers. WIOA aims at expanding earning potential, improving employability, and helping people retain a job by providing funded activities and services. Some of the funded activities include classroom training and on-the-job training.
Wagner-Peyser – It is a federal program offering services to job seekers. The program offers various services to job seekers, including job referrals, job search assistance, placement assistance, re-employment services to UI claimants, career guidance, skill and aptitude assessment, and referrals to training.

Know more job training opportunities in ND