COLUMBIA, S.C. – Late Tuesday afternoon, FEMA notified the Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) that South Carolina is approved for Lost Wages Assistance (LWA). The agency has notified Gov. Henry McMaster and his staff of this announcement.

South Carolina’s LWA will provide $300 in addition to a claimants’ weekly benefit amount. For each week an eligible claimant receives at least $100 in state or federal unemployment benefits, the LWA payment will add $300. DEW is working with the vendor to update the requirements of the new program into the MyBenefits portal which could take two to three weeks to implement.

Additional information is forthcoming regarding eligibility and program guidelines, as the agency reviews the information that has been provided by FEMA. Updates will be provided on the dew.sc.gov website, social media channels and through media partners.

About the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce

The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce is putting South Carolinians to work. The agency has four missions: (1) workforce development; (2) free job match employment services; (3) unemployment insurance; and (4) labor market information. All four missions contribute to workforce development. The agency is dedicated to advancing South Carolina through services and programs that meet the needs of our businesses, jobseekers and those looking to advance their careers.