Unemployment benefits made simple: how to apply and stay eligible in South Carolina

You lost a shift, the layoff came without much warning, and you just want to know exactly how to get a weekly check started without a dozen false steps. Filing for unemployment here is mostly about timing and clean paperwork. Everything starts online, claim weeks run Sunday through Saturday, and your first check never covers that first unpaid “waiting week.” Once you know those three truths, the rest of the process in South Carolina is straightforward.

Start here: are you likely eligible in South Carolina?

Unemployment Insurance in this state covers people who are out of work or reduced to part-time through no fault of their own and who are able and available to accept work. The system looks back at your earnings during a “base period” to decide whether you qualify and for how much. South Carolina uses a standard base period (the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters) and, if that doesn’t qualify you, an alternate base period using the most recent four completed quarters. You do not have to request which one to use; the agency evaluates both as needed.

If you qualify, your weekly benefit amount will land between $42 and $350 before taxes. The most you can draw is up to 20 weeks within a benefit year, which is the 12 months that start the Sunday your claim takes effect. There is a one-week unpaid waiting period that must be served before the first payable week can be issued. Claim weeks here are counted from Sunday through Saturday, and every payment is tied to you filing a weekly certification for that prior week.

Work-search is not optional. To keep getting paid, you must complete two job searches in the SC Works Online Services system each week you certify. If you are working reduced hours, you still can be paid for a week if your gross earnings for that Sunday–Saturday claim week are less than your weekly benefit amount. Report any wages for the week you performed the work, not when the paycheck hits.

What documents do I need and how does the application actually work?

Plan on filing your own initial claim online. Set aside 30–45 minutes and have these in reach: your Social Security number, your mailing address, a direct phone number, your driver’s license or state ID number, your last 18 months of employer names and addresses, the date you last worked for each, and any severance, vacation, or retirement you were offered at separation. If you want direct deposit, you will also enter your bank’s routing and account numbers during the application. You create a username and password for the MyBenefits portal and answer security questions at setup; write those down because you will use the same account every week to certify.

The application asks for your last day worked and why you are no longer working full time. Pick the option that actually matches what your employer would say if we called them. For example, if you were laid off for lack of work, use “lack of work,” not “fired,” and do not try to fix an earlier answer later to reverse a disqualification. As soon as your claim is on file, you can access the portal 24/7 to check status and, starting the following week, submit weekly certifications for the prior Sunday–Saturday week.

You will receive a Monetary Determination in the mail, typically within about a week of filing, showing the wages we used and your calculated weekly benefit amount. Read the wages line by line. If an employer or quarter is missing, the alternate base period may apply or you may need to submit wage proof. Upload documents directly in MyBenefits; do not mail originals.

If you get stuck, the unemployment call center answers at 1-866-831-1724 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Relay users can reach us at 711. For in-person computer access and staff who can help you navigate SC Works Online Services and the basics of the claim, the SC Works Midlands Center at 700 Taylor Street, Columbia 29201 is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; you can call them at 803-978-0190 before you go to confirm workshop or resource-room availability.

How will you get paid, and which option should you pick?

There are two ways benefits are issued in South Carolina: direct deposit to your bank account or a prepaid card. You choose during your application. If you do not provide bank information, you will be set up for a prepaid debit card by default. Taxes are not withheld from your benefits unless you elect that option in MyBenefits, and you can change your withholding choice later.

Whichever you choose, no payment can be released for a week until you submit that week’s certification and meet eligibility, and the first week is the unpaid waiting week. You also control whether federal and South Carolina income tax are withheld. If you opt in, withholdings reduce each weekly deposit now and can make tax season easier; if you opt out, you may owe taxes later and will receive a 1099-G by January showing the total paid.

Do I have to look for work every week, and where do I log it?

Yes. You must complete two job searches in SC Works Online Services for every week you certify. The window to complete those two searches is the same Sunday–Saturday claim week you are certifying for. Log the employer or job posting, date, and how you applied. There is a video tutorial inside the SC Works system, and a mobile app if you prefer to track searches on your phone.

If you skip the SC Works searches for a week you certify, your eligibility for that week can be denied, even if everything else is in order. If you worked part-time, still complete your two searches unless you are approved for job-attached status or another specific exemption. If your base-period work was mostly part time and DEW has approved you to seek part-time work, that satisfies the “able and available” requirement during your claim.

Need a computer or a staff person to show you where to click? In Columbia, you can use the resource room at SC Works Midlands, 700 Taylor Street, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Their front desk is at 803-978-0190, and Relay is 711. Centers post a monthly workshop schedule that often includes resume help and basic portal navigation. That in-person help is geared to the job-search and reemployment side, which is exactly what keeps your weekly certifications eligible.

What happens if DEW denies my claim or says I was overpaid?

If you disagree with a decision, follow the appeal instructions on your notice and file on time. The first-level appeal goes to the Appeal Tribunal and must be filed within 10 calendar days of the mailing date on the decision. If the tenth day lands on a weekend or state holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day. Your hearing notice arrives by mail and will list the date and time; most hearings are held by telephone. Keep your phone number current in MyBenefits, answer on time, and have your documents organized.

If an overpayment is established, you will receive an Overpayment Notice explaining the amount and the reason. Repayment can be handled several ways. You can pay online in MyBenefits using a credit card, debit card, or electronic check, you can mail a check or money order with your claimant ID, or you can set up an automatic bank draft or a monthly payment plan inside the portal. Electronic payments carry a small processing charge assessed by the third-party payment processor. If you do nothing, collection tools can include intercepting state or federal tax refunds or other recovery methods authorized by law.

To talk through a denial or an overpayment, call 1-866-831-1724 during business hours (Relay 711). If you have a tip about fraud, waste, or abuse, you may report it to the State Inspector General’s hotline at 855-723-7283. If you keep filing weekly certifications, do your SC Works searches, and respond to any information requests promptly, most claims resolve cleanly without drifting into overpayment territory.

Key things to know before you file

• Your weekly benefit falls between $42 and $350, for up to 20 weeks in your benefit year. The first week is an unpaid waiting week.
• Claim weeks in South Carolina run Sunday through Saturday. You only get paid for a week you certify in MyBenefits and remain eligible for.
• To keep receiving benefits, complete two job searches in SC Works Online Services every claim week you certify. Keep a record of the date, employer, and how you applied.
• Choose how you get paid: direct deposit to your bank account or a Money Network Prepaid Visa card. Card activation is by app or at 1-866-892-2835, and you can use Allpoint or MoneyPass ATMs surcharge-free.
• Help is available by phone at 1-866-831-1724 (Relay 711) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and Thursday 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
• For in-person help with job search and portal basics, SC Works Midlands, 700 Taylor Street, Columbia 29201, is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. at 803-978-0190.
• Disagree with a decision? Your appeal to the Appeal Tribunal is due within 10 calendar days of the mailing date on the notice. Missing that window can cost you weeks of eligibility.

Reader Q&A

Can I file if my hours were cut but I’m still working part-time?

Yes. If, during the Sunday–Saturday claim week, your gross earnings are less than your weekly benefit amount, you may receive a partial payment for that week. You must still file your weekly certification in MyBenefits and record two job searches in SC Works for that same week.

When should I submit my weekly certification so I don’t miss a week?

File after the claim week ends on Saturday. Use MyBenefits to certify that prior Sunday–Saturday week, report any gross wages earned in that span, and make sure your two SC Works job searches are logged for that same week. If you do not submit a timely weekly certification, no payment is issued for that week.

I live out of state now but worked for a South Carolina employer. Where do I file?

File an interstate claim online through the same MyBenefits system. The claim is tied to your South Carolina wages and employer, even though you now live elsewhere, and you will still complete weekly certifications and job searches during your claim weeks.

How long will benefits last if I stay eligible?

Your benefit year runs 12 months from when your claim starts. Within that year, you can be paid up to 20 weeks if you remain eligible, with a weekly amount between $42 and $350, and your first payable week comes after the one-week waiting period.

If you’re choosing between payment options, pick the one that matches how you already manage money. If you are choosing where to get help with your weekly work searches, a quick call to 803-978-0190 to confirm SC Works Midlands’ resource-room hours can save you a trip.

Published: September 10, 2026 · Reviewed by the South Carolina editorial team