Ever since the pandemic began, millions of North Carolinans have lost their jobs. According to the reports of the North Carolina Division of Employment Security (DES), about 2.49 million people filed for state and federal unemployment claims, and an estimated $8.2 billion benefits have been paid since mid-March. To help the unemployed meet their needs, the state is offering extra $50 benefits.
So, who qualifies for the Increased Benefit Amount in North Carolina? When can the claimants expect to receive the additional benefits? This article will break it down for you! But first, let’s understand what an Increase Benefit Amount (IBA) is.
What Is The Increased Benefit Amount In North Carolina?
On September 4, 2020, North Carolina passed House Bill 1105, Coronavirus Relief Act 3.0, and created a new extra unemployment program known as the Increased Benefit Amount. Under this program, the qualified claimants could receive a temporary $50 increase in their weekly benefit amount.
The IBA program would provide a $50 retroactive increase to the weekly unemployment benefits beginning with the benefit week that started on September 6 through no later than December 26, 2020.
Who Qualifies For Extra $50 Benefits In North Carolina?
To qualify for the Increased Benefit Amount in North Carolina, you must be receiving unemployment benefits through any of the state or federal unemployment programs. Also, you must have filed your initial claim before a specific date.
1. You Are Receiving Benefits Through The State Unemployment Benefits Program
If you are receiving benefits through the regular Unemployment Insurance program during the weeks of the IBA program, then as per the new state law, you will be eligible for the extra $50 benefit amount. You will receive the extra benefits regardless of when you filed your initial unemployment claim before or after September 6, 2020.
2. You Are Receiving Benefits Under The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program
If you are receiving benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, you can receive the extra $50 unemployment benefits. However, note that you will qualify for the IBA program only if you have filed your unemployment claim on or after September 6, 2020. If you have filed your claim before September 6, 2020, you will not qualify for the $50 Increased Benefit Amount.
Note – You may receive the extra $50, or your weekly benefit amount will be increased to the federally-set minimum for the PUA program, whichever is higher.
3. You Are Receiving Benefits Under Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program
If you are receiving benefits through the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) and your weekly amount under the state unemployment program is not increased, then according to the U.S. DOL, you will not qualify for the $50 Increased Benefit Amount. This condition holds good if you are receiving Extended Benefits (EB) or Trade Readjustment Allowance.
When Can You Expect To Receive The Extra $50 Benefits?
The North Carolina Division of Employment Security began rolling out payments for the $50 under the Increased Weekly Benefit Amount program on October 17, 2020, and you can soon expect to receive the payments.
How To Apply For The Increased Benefit Amount In North Carolina?
You need not apply or submit a separate application to receive extra unemployment benefits under the IBA program and will automatically receive the amount.
What To Do If You Have Lost Your Job Recently?
If you are unemployed recently, you can apply for the regular Unemployment Insurance benefits program. It is important to note that you must meet certain eligibility criteria to qualify for the unemployment program. Some of them include:
- You should have lost job through no fault of your own
- You should be able, available, and be ready to work
- You should earn minimum wages in your base period
You can file an unemployment claim by creating an account by visiting https://fed.des.nc.gov/ofis/citizen/pages/public/SelfRegStart.aspx. While applying for North Carolina unemployment benefits, you should submit several documents.
Documents Required
Documents or information required while filing for unemployment benefits in North Carolina include:
- Your name
- Your address
- Your Social Security Number (SSN)
- Reason for your separation from your employers
- Names and addresses of your employers
- Contact details of your employers
- Your bank account number and routing number and account number (if you want the payments to be directly deposited into your account
- Start and end dates of the employment
- Details regarding vacation or severance pay (if any)
- Details concerning your retirement pay, if any (gross monthly amount along with proof)
- If you are a non-citizen, submit your Alien Registration Number and date of expiration from your Employment Authorization Document
- If you were a federal employee, provide your SF-8 form, SF-50 form, pay stub(s), or W-2
- If you were former military personnel, submit your DD214, Member 4 Copy
If your claim is denied, but you believe that you are entitled to receive benefits, you can file an unemployment appeal.
Filing An Unemployment Appeal
You can file your appeal online by logging into your account on the DES website. You can also mail the appeal to [email protected] or fax to 919-857-1296 or by postal mail to DES Appeals, P.O. Box 27967, Raleigh, NC 27611-7967.
Note –
1) Appeals sent by fax, mail, or postal mail will take longer to process.
2) Due to the high volume of mails being received, the Department may take several weeks to review your mail.
Final words
The DES is taking extra steps to roll out payments to help the unemployed North Carolinans meet their primary needs during the crisis. If you have any queries regarding the unemployment benefits program (be it an extra $50 or regular benefits), contact authorities at DES.