Suddenly becoming unemployed does not mean just losing a job. It is the loss of security, certainty in your ability to pay your rent or mortgage, and possibly the loss of heath insurance. While DEW is here and ready to aid you through the re-employment process, there are other organizations that can help too. Find these other organizations listed below. 

Insurance

Due to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, you may be able to get more savings and lower costs on Marketplace health insurance coverage. This includes:

• More people than ever before qualify for help paying for health insurance, even those who weren’t eligible for subsidies in the past.
• Anyone currently receiving a subsidy will see their premium reduced.
• Enrollment has opened for everyone from April 1st through August 15th.
• Coverage will begin the first day of the month following enrollment date.
• There are now $0 premium silver plans with low out-of-pocket costs for many consumers.

It only takes a few minutes to see if you qualify.

A local, licensed independent agent from Lourie Life and Health can help you over the phone at (803) 256-2067. Click here to learn more about this program. 

Housing Assistance

 

Cellphone and Internet Assistance

Emergency Broadband Benefit:

The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price. The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

Click the following to learn more about the program and how to apply: Emergency Broadband Benefit.

Who Is Eligible for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program?

• A household is eligible if a member of the household meets one of the criteria below:
  • Has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline;
  • Approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year;
  • Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
  • Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
  • Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

Click the following to view the EBB outreach toolkit (including print materials) and for the option to request an FCC speaker: Emergency Broadband Benefit Outreach Toolkit.

 

Lifeline Program:

Lifeline is a federal program that lowers the monthly cost of phone and internet. Eligible customers will get up to $9.25 toward their bill. You can only use Lifeline for either phone or internet, but not both.

Here are the ways one can qualify for Lifeline:

• Based on Income
• If One Uses SNAP, Medicaid, or Other Programs
• Limit: One per Household

Click here for the history of the Lifeline Program: Lifeline Program for Low-Income Consumers

Click here for the administrator of the program’s website on further details of the lifeline program and how one would apply: Universal Service Administrative Co.

Click here for community outreach tools (including print materials) for the Lifeline Program: Community Outreach

Training Opportunities Available to UI Claimants through South Carolina Technical College System

Governor McMaster announced an innovative partnership between South Carolina's technical colleges and the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce to provide training opportunities for unemployed individuals in the state. The initiative is made available by the Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Funds. Upon enrolling in and attending short-term training programs, made available through the SC Technical College System, the claimant continues to forgo the weekly job search. The cost of the workforce training program is free to the student. Click here to learn more.