Provided you meet certain legal requirements, you may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits. (You will receive a definite answer when you file a claim.)

Qualifying Criteria
- You lost your job through no fault of your own.
- You worked for an employer(s) who paid taxes in your name.
- You earned specified minimum wages during the 12-month period prior to the quarter you lost work. (Local Workforce Centers provide details.)

Note: Unemployment insurance benefits depend on your base period. Once eligible and you file your initial claim, you’ll receive a notice with your wages from all covered employers during your base period. If your wages qualify you for benefits, you’ve established a benefit year. Missing wages? Report to your local office with missing wage documentation.

 

Employers fund unemployment insurance entirely. It is not welfare nor are funds withheld from your pay for these benefits.

 

If eligible, you can draw up to a maximum of $326.00 per week in South Carolina for 20 weeks. See Extended Benefits.

 

In about six weeks. We do not pay benefits in advance.

 

No. Severance pay doesn’t affect your ability to file an unemployment claim nor is it deducted from your weekly benefits.

 

Yes but you must report all earnings or risk being prosecuted. You may earn up to 1/4 your weekly benefit with no unemployment check deduction. Report earnings during the week you work—not when paid.

 

Yes but we will deduct jury duty payments from your weekly benefits. Report jury duty fees as earnings. Even when serving jury duty, search for work as required.

 

Yes. Taxes are withheld at the 10 percent federal rate and 7 percent state rate. When you file an unemployment claim, you can elect to withhold taxes. At year-end, you and the IRS will receive your 1099-G tax statement. Give us your new address if you move. Note: The IRS created a new electronic tax center, www.IRS.gov for struggling people whose income has decreased.

 

Yes. When you draw benefits, the law demands you be able, available, and actively seeking full-time work. Suppose you took a trip or were hospitalized (physically unable). You wouldn’t be eligible to draw during that time. Not seeking work can also disqualify you. Disqualification

 

Yes, but the job must be comparable to your former job. (A computer programmer, for example, can’t be forced to work as a carpenter.)

 

You and your employer can appeal any decision. Contact your local Workforce Center to know your rights. You have the right to appeal decisions affecting your benefit rights. Details

 

No. Quitting voluntarily without a good work-related reason disqualifies you. Disqualification

 

Congratulations on rejoining the workforce. If you are now earning more than your weekly benefit amount you must end benefits. Ending benefits is easy. Simply stop making your weekly call or online filing for benefits. Note: It is illegal to claim benefits while employed.

 

Report to your local office to have your address updated. 

 

Are you an interstate claimant? (What is this?) Call 1.866.397.2752 or email
RemoteInterstate@dew.sc.gov.

If you are a South Carolina Claimant contact your Workforce Center or call 803.737.2400 in Columbia, S.C.

 

To file an Interstate claim for unemployment call 1.800.529.8339 between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM or file online between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Note: if you file by telephone you may experience longer wait times on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday due to higher call volumes.

 

Call 1.800.529.8339 to transfer your claim to the Interstate Unit or file online between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Complete the application as if filing for the first time but include your new contact information. Send your claim to the Interstate Office when told to select a local office. Note: if you file by telephone you may experience longer wait times on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday due to higher call volumes.

 

If you have exhausted your regular UI benefits or EUC Tiers, you can file for an extension of your unemployment benefits by clicking here. You can also call 1-800-529-8339 or 1-866-397-2752

 

If you have questions about your claim, call 1.866.397.2752 or e-mail remoteinterstate@dew.sc.gov. Note: if you file by telephone you may experience longer wait times on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday due to higher call volumes.

 

It takes four to six weeks to process a Quit, Discharge, or Still Working Claim. Lack of work claims take two to three weeks to resolve.

 

Go to dew.sc.gov and click on the blue Claimants tab. Click on Forms under Benefits Information. Then click on Interstate Claimant Work Search Form. Fax the completed Work Search Form to the Remote Interstate Fax number 803.737.0539.

 

When you don’t claim your weeks in two weeks, the system locks you out. Call the Remote Interstate Claims Unit at 1.800.529.8339 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also file online between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Note: if you file by telephone you may experience longer wait times on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday due to higher call volumes.

 

Processing Internet claims takes two to three business days. We’ll contact you if we need information. Otherwise, we’ll submit your claim with information you provided. Look for an instruction packet telling you when to call your claim in.

 

If you are an interstate claimant (What is this?), call 1.866.397.2752 or email
RemoteInterstate@dew.sc.gov.

If you are a South Carolina Claimant contact your Workforce Center or call 803.737.2400 in Columbia, S.C.