There are three ways to file your claim:
You can file online, a process which takes about 20 minutes. When filing for benefits online, you will also have to register for work, so that potential employers can find your resume in a search of the Employment Security Commission's database.
You can also file for initial unemployment benefits over the phone by calling 1-877-841-9617. This toll-free number is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Finally, you can file for unemployment benefits in person at an Employment Security Commission of North Carolina office that's near you.
Here's a list of Triangle-area Employment Security Commission of North Carolina offices where you can file for unemployment benefits.