The Official Web Site of the State of South Carolina

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.

How We Help Individuals

Unemployment Insurance

Unemployment Insurance (UI) is a nationwide program created to financially help eligible individuals (also referred to as claimants), who are unemployed through no fault of their own, are able and available to work and are actively search for employment.

The program allows UI recipients to maintain purchasing power, therefore, easing the serious effects of unemployment on individual households, the community and the state. In South Carolina, a UI claim can provide up to 20 weeks of benefits. The average weekly benefit amount is $236. The maximum weekly benefit is $350.

Employers finance the UI program through tax contributions to the South Carolina Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, and DEW is responsible for the collection, accounting and auditing functions of South Carolina's UI tax program. DEW administers the UI program according to guidelines established by the South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 41, and South Carolina Code of Regulations, Chapter 47.

Video Resources

 

     Apply For Benefits                  Manage Your Weekly Benefits                  Overpayments and Collections

 

     Apply For Benefits                  Manage Your Weekly Benefits                  

 

     Filing Hints and Tips               Overpayments and Collections