North Carolina § 96-14 - 3. Duration of benefits.

§ 96-14. 3. Duration of benefits.

Duration. - The number of weeks an individual is allowed to receive unemployment benefits depends on the seasonal adjusted statewide unemployment rate that applies to the six-month base period in which the claim is filed. One six-month base period begins on January 1 and one six-month base period begins on July 1. For the base period that begins January 1, the average of the seasonal adjusted unemployment rates for the State for the preceding months of July, August, and September applies. For the base period that begins July 1, the average of the seasonal adjusted unemployment rates for the State for the preceding months of January, February, and March applies. The Division must use the most recent seasonal adjusted unemployment rate determined by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and not the rate as revised in the annual benchmark. Total Benefits. - The total benefits paid to an individual equals the individual's weekly benefit amount allowed under G.S. 96-14.2 multiplied by the number of weeks allowed under subsection (a) of this section. Seasonal Adjusted Number Unemployment Rate of Weeks Less than or equal to 5.5% 12 Greater than 5.5% up to 6% 13 Greater than 6% up to 6.5% 14 Greater than 6.5% up to 7% 15 Greater than 7% up to 7.5% 16 Greater than 7.5% up to 8% 17 Greater than 8% up to 8.5% 18 Greater than 8.5% up to 9% 19 Greater than 9% 20 History (2013-2, s. 5; 2013-224, ss. 13, 19; 2015-238, s. 2.8(b).) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2013-2, s. 11, as amended by Session Laws 2013-224, s. 19, provides: "This act becomes effective July 1, 2013. Changes made by this act to unemployment benefits apply to claims for benefits filed on or after June 30, 2013. The requirements of G.S. 96-15(a1) apply to any week of an attached claim filed on or after June 30, 2013. Changes made by this act to require an account balance by an employer that is a governmental entity or a nonprofit organization and that elects to finance benefits by making reimbursable payments in lieu of contributions apply to advance payments payable for calendar quarters beginning on or after July 1, 2013. Changes made by this act to the determination and application of the contribution rate apply to contributions payable for calendar quarters beginning on or after January 1, 2014." Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2013-224, s. 13, effective June 27, 2013, in the third sentence, inserted "average of the" and substituted "rates" for "rate" and "months of July, August, and September" for "month of October"; and in the fourth sentence, added "average of the" and substituted "rates' for "rate" and "months of January, February, and March" for "month of April.' Session Laws 2015-238, s. 2.8(b), effective July 1, 2015, in the catchline substituted "Duration of benefits" for "Minimum and maximum duration"; added subsection (a) designation, substituted "Duration. - The number" for "The minimum and maximum number", deleted the last sentence which read: "The number of weeks allowed for an individual is determined in accordance with G.S. 96-14.4."; deleted the column for "Minimum Number of Weeks" and deleted "Maximum" from the present second column; and added subsection (b).