North Dakota Unemployment Calculator 2026
North Dakota pays $43–$800 per week for up to 26 weeks in 2026. Your weekly benefit amount is 1/65 of your two highest-earning quarters plus half of the third-highest. Enter your quarterly wages below to estimate it — the math runs entirely in your browser, from figures verified against Job Service North Dakota (JSND).
Works offline — your inputs never leave this device. How that works
Enter your gross wages for each quarter of the base period — roughly the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. Your state's exact window is shown with the result.
Base period: 2026 Unemployment Benefit Chart: 'BASE PERIOD: The one-year period that determines the amount of money a claimant is qualified to receive. It is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the effective date of your claim.'.
File your claim with Job Service North Dakota (JSND) — only the agency determines your actual benefit.
Verified 2026-07-31 against Job Service North Dakota 'Unemployment Benefit Chart - Computation of Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) - Benefit Schedule 7/5/2026 - 7/3/2027' + JSND Unemployment Insurance Claimant Guide (JSND 4003) + N.D.C.C. ch. 52-06 (ndlegis.gov) (effective 2026-07-05)
Estimate only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Only Job Service North Dakota (JSND) can determine your actual amounts.
Official source: Job Service North Dakota (JSND) — file a claim ↗
Working part-time? Partial benefits
North Dakota disregards part of what you earn in a week before reducing your benefit. Estimate what a part-time week leaves you with:
- Disregard: 0.6 × WBA $400.00 = $240.00
- Countable earnings: $150.00 − $240.00 = $0.00
- Payable: WBA $400.00 − $0.00 = $400.00
How long benefits can last
Up to 26 weeks; total benefits are Duration is a ratio table, not a flat number. 2026 Unemployment Benefit Chart, 'DURATION: Total wages divided by the highest quarter = Ratio': 1.50-2.29 -> 12 weeks; 2.30-2.44 -> 14; 2.45-2.59 -> 16; 2.60-2.74 -> 18; 2.75-2.89 -> 20; 2.90-3.04 -> 22; 3.05-3.19 -> 24; 3.20 or more -> 26. Identical table in N.D.C.C. 52-06-05. JSND Claimant Guide: 'The total number of weeks you can receive benefits ranges from 12 to 26 weeks.'
Who qualifies for benefits in North Dakota
N.D.C.C. 52-06-04(2): 'To qualify as an insured worker an individual must have been paid wages for insured work in at least two calendar quarters of the individual's base period totaling not less than one and one-half times the individual's total wages paid during the quarter of the individual's base period in which the individual's wages were the highest.' N.D.C.C. 52-06-04(1)(b): if the computed amount 'is less than the minimum weekly benefit amount the individual is monetarily ineligible for benefits. The minimum weekly benefit amount is forty-three dollars.' On the 2026 chart that floor is reached at $2,795.00 of the highest two-and-one-half quarters.
Meeting the wage test is not the same as being approved: Job Service North Dakota (JSND) also rules on the reason for the separation and on your availability for work each week. File with Job Service North Dakota (JSND) ↗
Base period in North Dakota
2026 Unemployment Benefit Chart: 'BASE PERIOD: The one-year period that determines the amount of money a claimant is qualified to receive. It is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the effective date of your claim.'. No alternate base period is offered. No alternate base period appears in the JSND Claimant Guide, the 2026 Unemployment Benefit Chart, or N.D.C.C. 52-06-04 as opened for this pack.
See which quarters count for your filing date →Severance and your claim
JSND Claimant Guide, 'Severance Pay': 'Report severance pay in the week it is received or as indicated in the non-monetary determination letter issued by Job Service. If you receive severance pay not previously reported to Job Service, contact a claims center representative.' Earnings-reporting table: 'Severance Pay - Report in week received or as indicated on non-monetary determination.'
Source: Job Service North Dakota 'Unemployment Benefit Chart - Computation of Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) - Benefit Schedule 7/5/2026 - 7/3/2027' + JSND Unemployment Insurance Claimant Guide (JSND 4003) + N.D.C.C. ch. 52-06 (ndlegis.gov) (verified 2026-07-31).
North Dakota unemployment: frequently asked questions
North Dakota pays between $43 and $800 per week in 2026. Your amount is 1/65 of your two highest-earning quarters plus half of the third-highest, and only Job Service North Dakota (JSND) can determine it officially. These figures were verified against the agency's own publication on 2026-07-31.
More unemployment tools
North Dakota benefit-change alerts + the free Layoff Money Kit
One email when the numbers change. Double opt-in, no spam, unsubscribe anytime.