Unemployment information for independent contractors and self-employed workers

Independent contractors and self-employed workers out of work because of the COVID-19 outbreak can now apply for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) at des.nc.gov.

If you have already applied and been denied for state unemployment benefits, you may need to provide additional information to apply again. You should sign into your online account and click on the ‘Apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance’ link to complete the application process.

If you need assistance filing your PUA claim, call the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance line at 866-847-7209.

More information and detailed instructions are here.

So far, North Carolina has paid out a total of more than $636 million in unemployment benefits to more than 280,000 people since the start of the outbreak.