Unlocking South Carolina’s Unemployment Benefits
The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce provides unemployment insurance benefits to any out-of-work employee to help temporarily replace earnings while those employees seek new jobs.
By offering these benefits, the state allows unemployed workers to maintain their purchase power with unemployment compensation, which lessens the overall negative effects of unemployment on the state economy and the burden of unemployment on individual households. In South Carolina, UI benefits can provide up to $326 weekly for an unemployed worker.
South Carolina Unemployment Services
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Website | |
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Private Website | |
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Phone |
800-529-8339 |
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Apply Online | |
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Weekly Certification | |
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Appeal a Denial | |
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Find a Local Office | |
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Report Fraud | |
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Coronavirus Updates |
How To Qualify for South Carolina Unemployment Benefits
To meet eligibility requirements, the following must be true in most cases on behalf of your initial claim:
The claimant must be unemployed or working less than full time
If the claimant is working at some level, she must earn less than the weekly benefit amount
The claimant must be willing, able, and available to accept suitable work when it’s offered
The claimant must confirm eligibility for benefits each week, along with completing two job searches per week, which will need to be entered into the SC Works online portal for each week a claimant wants to receive benefits
Benefit Payments and Duration
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Base Period |
First 4 of the last 5 completed quarters |
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Alt Base Period |
Last 4 completed quarters |
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Duration of Benefits |
Weekly Payment |
Maximum Benefits Amount (1 year) | |
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Min |
Max | ||
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13-20 weeks |
$42 |
$326 |
$6,520 |
How To Apply for South Carolina Unemployment Benefits
The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce strongly encourages all claimants to set up an online account and submit the initial unemployment benefits claim online. However, if you do not have Internet access, or if an online claim is impossible for other reasons, you also may submit an unemployment claim in person at your local South Carolina Works center or connection point. You may have to provide other legal information during this application process, such as your full name, social security number, and your authorization to work in the state of South Carolina.
Once approved for UI benefits, you may choose to have your weekly federal benefits delivered via direct deposit or loaded onto a Bank of America prepaid debit card.
Managing Your Unemployment Benefits
For as long as you receive benefits, you must submit a weekly certification to verify that you remain eligible for UI benefits. You can use the same username and password for the account you set up when filing your initial claim. You will need to log your job search activity, including a minimum of two job searches per week.
If you earned any wages that week, you must report the amount. You also may be asked to answer other questions about your weekly activities and your eligibility.
How Do I Appeal a Decision?
If you disagree with the decision regarding your claim, you can learn how to file an appeal in South Carolina. Make sure to closely read the letter you receive detailing your decision. It also will outline the steps you need to take to begin the appeal process. Once your appeal is received, you may be asked to participate in a hearing, during which you can answer questions about your claim.
If you receive an appellate decision that you still disagree with, your next step is to file another appeal with the Appellate Panel. This type of appeal must be filed within 10 days of the mailing date listed on your appellate decision.
Reporting Fraud
The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce calls on all unemployment benefit recipients to be mindful of fraud and abuse. Participants are strongly encouraged to use the state’s online reporting form to bring forward any situations in which fraud is suspected, including employer fraud, claimant fraud, and even identity theft.
You also may call the fraud hotline at 800-868-1488. All tips are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. When you make your report, try to provide as many details as you possibly can. This helps the state ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used appropriately and that UI benefits are truly going to those who need them most.
South Carolina Unemployment Office Locations
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Unemployment Office – Abbeville |
903 West Greenwood St. Abbeville, SC 29620 |
864-366-6690 |
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Aiken Unemployment Office |
1571 Richland Avenue East Aiken, SC 29802-3097 |
803-641-1065 |
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Allendale Unemployment Office |
398 Barnwell Highway Allendale, SC 29810 |
803-584-3263 |
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Unemployment Office Anderson |
511 Michelin Blvd Anderson, SC 29625 |
864-260-6780 |
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Barnwell Center |
248 Wall Street Barnwell, SC 29812 |
803-450-1023 |
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Unemployment Office Beaufort |
164 Castle Rock Road Beaufort, SC 29906 |
843-524-3351 |
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Unemployment Office – Bennettsville |
460 Highway 9 West PO Box 247 Bennettsville, SC 29512 |
843-456-7610 |
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Bishopville Center |
200 N. Main Street Bishopville, SC 29010 |
803-774-1402 |
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Darlington Lee Adult Ed |
123 E. College Street Bishopville, SC 29010 |
803-484-4200 |
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Unemployment Office Camden Center |
1111 Broad Street Camden, SC 29020 |
803-432-5153 |
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Unemployment Office – Cheraw |
318 Front Street PO Box 877 Cheraw, SC 29520 |
843-320-9760 |
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Unemployment Office – Chester |
525 College Place Chester, SC 29706 |
803-313-7386 |
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Chesterfield Adult Education |
116 Edwards Road Chesterfield, SC 29709 |
843-731-3971 |
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Unemployment Office Clemson Center |
1376 Tiger Blvd Suite 102 Clemson, SC 29631 |
864-643-0071 |
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Unemployment Office Columbia |
700 Taylor St Columbia, SC 29201 |
803-737-5627 |
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Unemployment Office Coastal Center Conway |
200-A Victory Lane Conway, SC 29526 |
843-234-9675 |
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Bamberg Unemployment Office |
19 Maple Avenue Denmark, SC 29042 |
803-956-6030 |
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Unemployment Office Dillon |
2204 Hwy 301 South Dillon, SC 29536 |
843-774-1420 |
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Unemployment Office Easley |
1776 Powdersville Road Easley, SC 29642 |
864-220-8990 |
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Unemployment Office – Edgefield |
21 Star Road Edgefield, SC 29824 |
803-637-4029 |
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Unemployment Office Florence Center |
1558 West Evans Street Florence, SC 29501 |
843-407-9679 |
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Upstate – Cherokee Center |
111-C Tiffany Park Gaffney, SC 29341 |
864-902-1151 |
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Unemployment Office – Georgetown |
1105 Church Street Georgetown, SC 29440 |
843-546-8581 |
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Unemployment Office McAlister Square |
225 South Pleasantburg Drive Suite E-1 Greenville, SC 29607 |
864-467-8080 |
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Greenwood Unemployment Office |
927 E Cambridge Ave Greenwood, SC 29646 |
864-229-8872 |
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Unemployment Office Greer |
202 Victoria Street Greer Greer, SC 29651 |
864-334-3512 |
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Unemployment Office Hampton |
303 First St East Hampton, SC 29924 |
843-226-9254 |
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Unemployment Office Hartsville |
437 West Carolina Avenue PO Drawer 1170 Hartsville, SC 29550 |
843-309-9817 |
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Unemployment Office Kingstree |
530 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue PO Box 727 Kingstree, SC 29556 |
843-354-7436 |
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Unemployment Office – Lancaster |
705 North White Street PO Box 1779 Lancaster, SC 29720 |
803-313-7386 |
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Unemployment Office – Laurens |
1029 West Main St Laurens, SC 29360 |
864-681-1605 |
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Manning Center |
215 N. Brooks Street Manning, SC 29102 |
803-435-8633 |
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Unemployment Office Marion |
2413 East Highway 76 Marion, SC 29571 |
843-765-3123 |
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Unemployment Office – McCormick |
109 West Augusta Street McCormick, SC 29835 |
864-852-3649 |
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Unemployment Office Berkeley |
305 Heatley Street Moncks Corner, SC 29461 |
843-761-4400 |
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Unemployment Office – Newberry County |
1840 Wilson Rd. PO Box 1011 Newberry, SC 29108 |
803-276-2110 |
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Unemployment Office Charleston |
1930 Hanahan Road Suite 200 North Charleston, SC 29406 |
843-574-1800 |
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Unemployment Office Orangeburg Center |
1804 Joe Jeffords Hwy Orangeburg, SC 29116 |
803-534-3336 |
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Unemployment Office Rock Hill Center |
454 South Anderson Road Suite 202 Rock Hill, SC 29730 |
803-328-3881 |
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Unemployment Office – Saluda |
407 West Butler Avenue Saluda, SC 29138 |
864-445-2047 |
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Unemployment Office Seneca |
104 Vocational Drive Seneca, SC 29672 |
864-646-1741 |
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Unemployment Office Winnsboro Center |
96 US Hwy 321 Bypass South South Winnsboro, SC 29180 |
803-635-2812 |
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Unemployment Office Spartanburg |
220 E. Kennedy Street PO Box 1250 Spartanburg, SC 29306 |
864-764-1966 |
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Calhoun Center |
101 Courthouse Drive St. Matthews, SC 29135 |
803-874-2443 |
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Unemployment Office Dorchester |
1325-A Boone Hill Road Summerville, SC 29483 |
843-821-0695 |
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Unemployment Office – Sumter |
31 E Calhoun Street Sumter, SC 29150 |
803-774-1300 |
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Unemployment Office Upstate Union |
300 E South ST, Union PO Box 663 Union, SC 29379 |
864-427-7140 |
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Colleton Career Skills Center |
1085 Thunderbolt Drive Walterboro, SC 29488 |
843-538-1613 |
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Lexington Unemployment Office |
671 Main Street West Columbia, SC 29170 |
803-359-6131 |
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