These requirements are a general guideline, and the outcome of your claim depends on your specific situation.

1. You’re unemployed. Note: If you currently work less than full time due to being out of work and earn less than your weekly benefit amount, you’re still considered unemployed. When filing your weekly claim, report all work you performed and wages earned that week. Continue to seek full-time work.
2. It was not your fault you lost your job from your most recent bona fide employer. “Most recent bona fide employer” means your most recent former employer where you earned eight times your weekly benefit amount.
3. You're able to work.
4. You’re available for work and willing to take any suitable offer.
5. You regularly report to your local SC Works center as expected. Note: If you know you will be away at reporting time, tell the center in advance. You could lose benefits if you fail to report.
6. You actively seek appropriate work. You could lose benefits if you don’t search for work weekly.
• You are required to make FOUR job search contacts per week and document these contacts on Record of Work Seeking Activities (UCB-303) form. One of your weekly job search contacts must be made through SC Works Online Services.

 

To be monetarily eligible for UI benefits, you must:

1. Have at least $1,092 in covered employment (with an employer who paid UI taxes) during the base period’s highest quarter.
2. Have earned at least $4,455 from covered employment during the base period.
3. Have total base period wages that equal or exceed 1.5 times the high quarter wages’ total.

The base period is defined as wages earned doing one year of insured work. Base-period wages typically establish monetary eligibility for UI benefits. There are two method’s  used when calculating the base period: the standard base period and the alternate base period, both described below. When your initial claim is reviewed, DEW will decide which base period system your situation falls under. You will not have to determine this yourself.

Click here for information regarding weekly benefit amounts.

Standard Base Period

The standard base period comprises the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters preceding a claim’s starting date.

Your claim’s effective date determines your base period—not the date you become unemployed. For example, if your claim goes into effect during January, February, or March 2013, your base period is the first three quarters of 2012 plus the last quarter of 2011; even if your claim takes effect March 31, the last day of the quarter.

Month January February March April May June July August September October November December Year 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 Calculate Your Base Period

Quarter 1 = January 1st – March 31st
Quarter 2 = April 1st – June 30st
Quarter 3 = July 1st – September 30st
Quarter 4 = October 1st – December 31st

 

Alternate Base Period

If you don’t qualify for UI benefits using the standard base period, you may qualify using the alternate base period.

The alternate base period includes the four most recently completed calendar quarters, including lag quarter wages—the most recently completed quarter preceding a new claim’s effective date.

Note: To use the alternate base period, no wages from federal, military, or out-of-state employment can be missing.

 

Even when sufficient wages qualify you for benefits, other reasons can disqualify you including:

1. Leaving work voluntarily without good cause
2. Being discharged for misconduct connected with employment
3. Being discharged for cause, other than misconduct
4. Refusing to accept a suitable job offer from an SC Works center or employer
5. Voluntarily retiring
6. Becoming unemployed as a party to a labor dispute
   
   

Note: The length and type of disqualification depends on circumstances.