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Due to severe winter weather, many government offices will be closed Monday, February 2. DEW's Appeals, Collections, and Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax departments will not be available to take calls. Please know that we have limited staff taking UI calls starting at 10 AM and wait times may be long. We strongly encourage you to call back tomorrow if your call is not urgent. As a reminder, you can always get up-to-date information about your claim or account by visiting the MyBenefits claimant portal. 

For the latest updates of SC Works closures, please visit scworks.org/sc-works-closings to find out if your local center is affected.

Complete Wage Audit

What is a Wage Audit Notice?

A Wage Audit Notice is sent to employers to confirm the accuracy of benefit payments when claimants return to work or have earned wages during the quarter in which they filed for or received unemployment insurance benefits. A Wage Audit Notice requests information on gross wages for specific weeks for a particular claimant. It is essential that employers return the WAN to reduce fraud and prevent overpayments.

Why is the Wage Audit Important?

  • Reduces unemployment fraud and overpayments.
  • Maintains the integrity of the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
  • Corrects inaccurate information which can cause incorrect or missed overpayments, resulting in appeal hearings.
  • Reduces likelihood of an increase in employer tax rates due to improper payments.

Responding to Wage Audit Notices

Each week DEW cross-checks wage and new hire databases with the unemployment benefit recipient database to identify individuals who may have improperly received unemployment benefits while being employed. Claims with potential for conflict are audited via Wage Audit Notices that are sent to the current employer of the individual in question. Wage Audit Notices should be completed and returned within ten calendar days. 

Resources for completing Wage Audits:

What else do I need to know to complete the Wage Audit?

  • “First day worked” should be the first day worked for pay, if different than the hiring date.
  • Individuals are required to provide/list wages on a Sunday through Saturday format. If your employee worked part-time, it is imperative to provide wages in the same Sunday-through-Saturday format.
  • Pro-rating part-time wages could result in improper overpayments.
  • Report gross wages when they are earned – not when they were paid.
  • Bonus pay is the only pay that is reportable when it is received.
  • Be sure to include holiday, vacation, and sick pay in gross wages for the week(s) covered.
  • Severance and/or separation pay is reportable for the period it covers.
  • You can attach supporting documentation such as timecards and pay stubs.