2026 · North Dakota
North Dakota unemployment benefits
North Dakota pays up to $815 a week for up to 26 weeks, a middle-of-the-pack maximum (#9 of 51). Estimate yours below.
North Dakota's 2026 figures
| Weekly benefit range | $43 - $815 |
| Maximum duration | 26 weeks (12-26; schedule 7/6/2025-7/4/2026) |
| Waiting week | Yes, one unpaid week |
| How it's figured | average weekly wage |
| Taxed by North Dakota? | Yes |
Worked example: a $60,000 earner in North Dakota
On a $60,000 prior wage, the estimate is about $577 a week (within North Dakota's $43-$815 range). Over 26 weeks that's up to $15,002 in total. North Dakota has an unpaid one-week waiting week, so your first payment covers the second week you claim.
North Dakota against its neighbors
Across the border in Minnesota, the weekly cap is $948, $133 a week more than North Dakota's $815. That gap doesn't mean you can shop for a better rate: benefits come from the state where your wages were reported, not where you live now.
Worked in a bordering state? Its rules apply instead: Minnesota , Montana , South Dakota .
Questions about North Dakota unemployment
How much does North Dakota pay in unemployment?
Between $43 and $815 a week in 2026, based on your prior wages (average weekly wage). The $815 maximum is a middle-of-the-pack maximum (#9 of 51).
How long does North Dakota unemployment last?
Up to 26 weeks12-26; schedule 7/6/2025-7/4/2026. At the $815 weekly maximum that caps total potential benefits at $21,190. The duration and the weekly amount are set separately, North Dakota sizes the check off average weekly wage but counts weeks on its own rules, so low earners may qualify for fewer weeks, and two people with the same weekly benefit can exhaust at different times.
Is North Dakota unemployment taxed?
Federally, yes, it's ordinary income (elect 10% withholding on Form W-4V). North Dakota also taxes it on the state return.
Does severance affect my North Dakota unemployment?
Filing timing can matter. Some states delay or reduce unemployment while severance is being paid, and the rule varies. North Dakota's treatment is not modeled here, confirm the timing with Job Service North Dakota before you file, since it is a real-money decision. Confirm the timing with Job Service North Dakota before you file rather than after, a difference of one week in when the claim starts can change whether a severance payment offsets the benefit. The tax side of the severance itself is on the North Dakota severance page.
File with Job Service North Dakota. This is an estimate, Job Service North Dakota determines your actual benefit.
Your North Dakota layoff toolkit
- North Dakota severance tax the tax on your severance
- Runway calculator how long your money lasts
- North Dakota paycheck calculator your take-home when you're back at work
- North Dakota 1099 tax if you go freelance or contract
An estimate, North Dakota's agency determines your actual benefit. Figures from the verified 2026 dataset, last verified 2026-07-24. Nothing you enter is stored. Not tax or legal advice.