On Wednesday, October 16, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper issued an emergency Executive Order authorizing an increase in weekly benefit amount for individuals receiving regular state unemployment benefits.
As a result of the Order, all individuals eligible for regular unemployment benefits will see an increase in payout by $250, with the maximum weekly benefit amount temporarily elevated to $600, up from $350. Due to federal law, these increases will be applicable statewide, regardless of disaster declaration (or lack thereof), though it is estimated that approximately 80% of new claims since the disaster (through October 13) have come from disaster impacted areas. Increased benefit amounts will be in effect until the end of the Emergency or its rescission.
Benefit duration will remain at 12 weeks for regular unemployment benefits. However, if an individual in an impacted county maxes out their regular benefits, and they are still out of work due to Hurricane Helene’s impacts, the individual will likely be eligible for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits.
The Division of Employment Security estimates that it will take between 2-3 weeks for claimants to see the increase in their benefit checks. Claimants will also see any applicable adjustment payments retroactive to September 29, 2024.
It is important to note that, despite the increase in benefits, employers will not see any additional increase in unemployment taxes due to these increased benefits. North Carolina’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund currently holds over $4.8 billion, and the difference between traditional payment amounts and the increased payment amounts will be pulled directly from the trust fund.
Additional updates on Disaster Unemployment Assistance can be found on our website or via our DUA Benefits Fact Sheet.
