StateTally

North Carolina Unemployment Benefit Calculator

Enter the wages from your most recent two completed quarters to estimate your North Carolina weekly unemployment benefit using the state’s formula.

Reviewed 2026-08-27 · Estimates only — not legal or financial advice.

North Carolina uses the LAST two completed quarters, not the highest. Before taxes.
Before taxes.
The law behind this calculator: North Carolina Division of Employment Security — N.C.G.S. § 96-14.2; NC DES.

How North Carolina calculates it

  • Add the wages from your last completed quarter to the wages from the quarter before that.
  • Divide the combined total by 52.
  • If the result is less than $15 per week, the benefit is set to $15; if it exceeds $400 per week, it is capped at $400.
  • The $400 maximum applies to claims filed on or after July 1 2026 (earlier claims were capped at $350).
  • Benefits are payable for up to 12 weeks at current unemployment rates (the duration can range from 12 to 20 weeks depending on the state rate).
  • The weekly benefit amount and duration are determined by the formula and current unemployment rate.

Worked example

Quarters of $11,000 and $10,000: ($11,000 + $10,000) ÷ 52 = $404, adjusted to the $400 bound — a weekly benefit of $400 for up to 12 weeks ($4,800 total if fully drawn).

Frequently asked questions

What wages are used to calculate my weekly benefit?

The calculation uses the wages you earned in your last two completed quarters.

How is the weekly benefit amount determined?

Your total wages from those two quarters are added together and divided by 52; the result is then limited to a minimum of $15 and a maximum of $400 per week.

What is the maximum weekly benefit and when did it change?

The maximum weekly benefit is $400 for claims filed on or after July 1 2026; previously it was $350.

How many weeks can I receive benefits?

Benefits are payable for up to 12 weeks at current unemployment rates, though the duration can vary between 12 and 20 weeks depending on the state unemployment rate.

What information do I need to enter into the calculator?

You need to provide the wages you earned in your most recent completed quarter and the wages from the quarter before that.

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