The UI cuts in N.C. were both in number of weeks from up to 26 weeks to 12, and a weekly maximum amount from $535 to $350.

By comparison, during the height of the Great Recession with the state jobless rate exceeded 10% for several months, some N.C. residents received up to 99 weeks of regular and extended state and federal UI benefits.

The average weekly UI benefit amount paid in 2018 was $261.10, while the average number of benefit weeks was 8.92. The state was projected to spend just $118 million in jobless benefits in 2018.

The left-leaning N.C. Justice Center said that just 9.91% of the state’s jobless workers received UI benefits in the last quarter of 2018, ranking North Carolina last in the country. North Carolina ranked 24th before the 2013 changes went into effect.

"The state is replacing just 32 cents for every $1 in lost income, circulating far fewer dollars in the economy than recommended by economists, who typically seek a replacement rate of at least 50 percent," according to the advocacy group.

As of June 5, the state had $3.61 billion in a UI trust fund, according to the N.C. Commerce Department. Economists have recommended the state have at least $4 billion in the UI trust fund.