Thank you - I checked my last year's return - I'm glad I didn't report the total compensation I was due in 2016 (though at the time I felt I should have had, even though the DES 1099-G didn't). Because I didn't "activate" the debit card within 10 days I had all kinds of complications later.  Nowhere on the web page of the Bank of America debit card website or NC's DES site did it say it needed activation in 10 days.
So, because of complications due to the card activation, the amount available for access from the card was delayed until 2017...thus unemployment comp amount was not put on the 2016 1099-G, but 2017's.  (I was not laid off at all in 2017,though).
Lesson learned - if  you are ever laid off and use a debit card, activate it IMMEDIATELY even if you don't need to use it right away. I guess it'll all come out more or less correct in the end. I feel a bit better now after your answer!