Except for an uptick in May, the amount of unemployment insurance benefits (all programs) paid to eligible Beaufort County residents has decreased each month this year, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Labor and Economic Analysis Division.

The overall decline in unemployment insurance paid out in the county during the first six months of 2015 can be attributed to the overall drop in the county’s unemployment rate and the fewer number of people receiving unemployment insurance benefits during those four months. The decrease in the amount of benefits paid could be attributed to an improving economy, a drop in the number of people collecting benefits, lower benefit amounts and a shorter period for benefits eligibility, according to Larry Parker, public information officer with the Division of Employment Security.

In June, those benefits totaled $96,348. In May, when the uptick occurred, the benefits totaled $102,616. In January, those benefits totaled $131,132. In February, the benefits paid had dropped to $127,205. For March, the benefits paid fell again to 119,424. The downward movement continued in April, when benefits paid totaled $98,565, according to LEAD statistics.

In June, 113 county residents filed initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, with 655 total weeks of benefits claimed, according to LEAD data. Of those 113 residents, 65 were women and 48 were men. LEAD data shows that 62 of those 113 residents were black or African-American, 48 were white and three were of other races.

The age group with the highest number of benefits recipients in June was the 35-to-44 age group, which had 35 recipients. The 25-to-44 age group had 25 recipients, followed by the 45-to-54 age group with 24 recipients. The 20-to-24 and the 55-to-64 age groups each had 12 recipients.

In North Carolina during June, the average weekly benefit amount was $227.61. In May, that amount was at $230.79, In June 2014, the average weekly benefit amount was $221.57, according to LEAD data.

The amount of a claimant’s weekly benefit amount depends, in part, on that person’s salary history during the last two quarters of his or her base period divided by 52. A claimant must have at least $780 in one of those last two quarters to establish a weekly benefit amount, which cannot exceed $350.

The overall benefits paid include regular unemployment insurance, unemployment compensation for federal employees, unemployment compensation for ex-military personnel, emergency unemployment compensation, extended benefits and federal additional compensation, according to LEAD documents.