North Dakota to nix federal pandemic unemployment benefits, citing workforce shortage The move means residents who have claimed unemployment for longer than 20 weeks will be kicked off benefits, and those who continue to successfully claim unemployment will no longer receive a weekly add-on benefit of $300 to $400. Written By: Jeremy Turley | × The Fargo office of Job Service North Dakota at 1350 32nd St. S. Forum file photo BISMARCK — North Dakota will stop offering federal pandemic unemployment benefits to residents on June 19, citing a statewide workforce shortage. Republican Gov. Doug Burgum announced Monday, May 10, the state will pull out of four federally provided programs that offer extra compensation and longer eligibility to unemployed North Dakotans.