Claimants May Need to Reapply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits
From the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
As we enter a new quarter on July 5, you may be required to reapply for unemployment insurance benefits. The CARES Act, specifically states that anyone who is potentially eligible for state UI and is currently on a federal program like PUA, must reapply so their regular UI benefit eligibility can be re-determined. If this will affect you, you will receive an alert within the MyBenefits Portal with instructions to “Apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits.” We encourage you to utilize the resources available on our YouTube page and website.
YouTube: https://bit.ly/2BWLd62
FAQs www.dew.sc.gov/covidfaq
South Carolina Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Data
Week Ending June 6, 2020
Initial Claims: For claim week ending June 6, 2020, the number of South Carolinians who filed their initial claim for unemployment insurance benefits is 22,734, an increase of 3,748 initial claims from the week prior. This brings the initial claims total to 582,265 received since mid-March.
“Although we were hoping for the eighth week in reported decreases in South Carolina, that is not the case for the claim week of week of May 31 – June 6, 2020,” said Dan Ellzey, Executive Director, S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.
“The above tables indicate the top 10 industries with the highest number of initial claims being filed for both claim weeks. While the restaurant and tourism industry continues to come back to life, it is still experiencing high unemployment numbers. A few other examples of why we may be experiencing higher initial claims numbers could be contributed to the following reasons:
- This is the third year we have noticed an uptick in initial claims being filed the week after Memorial Day. The specifics of this 3-year trend are unclear, but worth mentioning.
- Manufacturers, which are represented in four of the industry sectors above, are still dealing with supply chain constraints and potential reduced demand overall; a trickle-down effect experienced by this industry as opposed to the immediate shut down of leisure and hospitality businesses at the onset of COVID-19.
- Temporary staffing agencies experienced large layoffs, in part due to their connection to manufacturing and healthcare – sectors that are both still experiencing layoffs.
Our agency will continue to support those who have lost their job while helping connect individuals with workforce opportunities in their area. Our employees are dedicated to this mission,” Ellzey concluded.
Agency Responsiveness:
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From March 15, 2020 to June 9, 2020, the agency has paid more than $2.1 billion in a combination of South Carolina UI benefits, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (for the self-employed and others), the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation ($600 per week) program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (extension of benefits for 13 weeks) program.
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Our call center is maintaining extended hours this week. Please note that Monday and Tuesday are our highest call volume days. We notice a decrease in incoming calls starting Wednesday and Saturdays are our lowest call volume days. If you need assistance we encourage you to call on an off peak day.
Call center hours (1-866-831-1724)
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. – Noon
South Carolina Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Data
Week Ending May 30, 2020
Initial Claims: For claim week ending May 30, 2020, the number of South Carolinians who filed their initial claim for unemployment insurance benefits is 18,986, a decrease of 5,964 initial claims from the week prior. This brings the initial claims total to 559,531 received since mid-March.
“As the number of initial claims continues to decrease week over week, we hope to see more opportunities for South Carolina to return to stable employment and financial stability. As more individuals return to work, many have asked what they need to do to stop receiving unemployment benefits. The answer is simple; just stop certifying. The self-reported certification each week tells us if you’re still unemployed. Once you stop certifying for 14 days, your claim will become inactive. There’s no need to call us or notify us within the portal that you’ve returned to work or started a new position,” said Dan Ellzey, Executive Director, S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.
“However, we know not everyone is in a position to immediately return to work. For those who are still looking for employment, our agency and the SC Works system offer resources to help you with this process,” Ellzey concluded.
Reemployment Resources
- SC Works Centers: Representatives in the SC Works centers can help you update your resume, offer interviewing tips and talk with individuals about hot jobs in the area and employers who are looking to fill positions right now. They can also refer you to occupational training, soft skills training and educational opportunities.
- To contact a local SC Works Center, visit SCWorks.org and click “Find a Center.”
- Job Search Portal: The SC Works Online Services (SCWOS) portal is South Carolina’s largest job search portal. Visit jobs.scworks.org.
Agency Responsiveness:
- From March 15, 2020, to June 2, 2020, the agency has paid more than $1.8 billion in a combination of South Carolina UI benefits, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (for the self-employed and others), the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation ($600 per week) program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (extension of benefits for 13 weeks) program.
- The Chatbot feature on dew.sc.gov continues to improve thanks to your input.
- The agency’s SC DEW YouTube page is consistently updated with videos that walk individuals through the various claims processes, messages from leadership and explanations of the Federal CARES Act programs as well as the UI process.
- DEW social media platforms have updates, reminders and Q&A posts all developed in response to commonly asked questions and important need-to-know information.
- The average wait time for customers calling the TelClaim number has dropped to an hour or less for 90 percent of the calls.
Call center hours (1-866-831-1724)
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. – Noon
South Carolina Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Data
Week Ending May 30, 2020
Initial Claims: For claim week ending May 30, 2020, the number of South Carolinians who filed their initial claim for unemployment insurance benefits is 18,986, a decrease of 5,964 initial claims from the week prior. This brings the initial claims total to 559,531 received since mid-March.
“As the number of initial claims continues to decrease week over week, we hope to see more opportunities for South Carolina to return to stable employment and financial stability. As more individuals return to work, many have asked what they need to do to stop receiving unemployment benefits. The answer is simple; just stop certifying. The self-reported certification each week tells us if you’re still unemployed. Once you stop certifying for 14 days, your claim will become inactive. There’s no need to call us or notify us within the portal that you’ve returned to work or started a new position,” said Dan Ellzey, Executive Director, S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.
“However, we know not everyone is in a position to immediately return to work. For those who are still looking for employment, our agency and the SC Works system offer resources to help you with this process,” Ellzey concluded.
Reemployment Resources
- SC Works Centers: Representatives in the SC Works centers can help you update your resume, offer interviewing tips and talk with individuals about hot jobs in the area and employers who are looking to fill positions right now. They can also refer you to occupational training, soft skills training and educational opportunities.
- To contact a local SC Works Center, visit SCWorks.org and click “Find a Center.”
- Job Search Portal: The SC Works Online Services (SCWOS) portal is South Carolina’s largest job search portal. Visit jobs.scworks.org.
Agency Responsiveness:
- From March 15, 2020, to June 2, 2020, the agency has paid more than $1.8 billion in a combination of South Carolina UI benefits, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (for the self-employed and others), the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation ($600 per week) program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (extension of benefits for 13 weeks) program.
- The Chatbot feature on dew.sc.gov continues to improve thanks to your input.
- The agency’s SC DEW YouTube page is consistently updated with videos that walk individuals through the various claims processes, messages from leadership and explanations of the Federal CARES Act programs as well as the UI process.
- DEW social media platforms have updates, reminders and Q&A posts all developed in response to commonly asked questions and important need-to-know information.
- The average wait time for customers calling the TelClaim number has dropped to an hour or less for 90 percent of the calls.
Call center hours (1-866-831-1724)
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. – Noon
South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce Provides Guide to Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation Filing
PEUC General Information and FAQs
Guide to Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation Filing
South Carolina Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Data
Week Ending May 16, 2020
Initial Claims: For claim week ending May 16, 2020, the number of South Carolinians who filed their initial claim for unemployment insurance benefits is 29,446, a decrease of 3,067 initial claims from the week prior. This means that there were 29,446 individuals, who both live and work in the state of South Carolina, filed an initial claim during the claim week, May 10, 2020 – May 16, 2020.
“Throughout the duration of this crisis, our priority is processing claims and backdating payments appropriately. We want to reassure all claimants that if and when they are found eligible, critical payments will be paid to them. Since the pandemic began in March of this year, we have received 515,595 initial claims for unemployment and paid out more than $1.35 billion dollars. Additionally, we are close to launching our third and final federal program, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which will be available to South Carolinians who exhaust their 20 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits and are still unemployed,” said Dan Ellzey, Executive Director, S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. “We are prepared to help both employers and claimants navigate the unemployment system during and as they transition back to work. These are trying times and it will take an all-hands-on-deck approach from every single resident to reboot our state’s economy.”
Agency Responsiveness:
- From March 15, 2020 to May 19, 2020, the agency has paid more than $1.35 billion in a combination of state UI benefits, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (for the self-employed and others) and the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation ($600 per week) program. On March 15, the agency had approximately 49 employees working in the call center. They were able to handle the call level at that point. In an attempt to meet current demand, we have added staff to our call centers that now total more than 500 employees.
- Our call center staff is consistently answering more than 80,000 phone calls each week. We will continue to operate this week on an 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. schedule Monday – Friday. Saturday’s hours will be 8 a.m. – Noon. The number to call is 1-866-831-1724.
- The Chatbot feature on the dew.sc.gov website continues to improve thanks to your input. If you have FAQ type questions about the UI process, federal funds provided through the CARES Act, employer filing, etc., we ask you to try the Chatbot before calling to avoid the wait.
South Carolina Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Data
Week Ending May 2, 2020
Initial Claims: For claim week ending May 2, 2020, the number of South Carolinians who filed their initial claim for unemployment insurance benefits is 46,747, a decrease of 18,412 initial claims from the week prior. This means that there were 46,747 individuals who both live and work in the state of South Carolina who filed an initial claim during the claim week, April 26, 2020 – May 2, 2020. This is the data you will see reflected in the county information below.
“Our agency is encouraged to report the third straight weekly decline in the number of Unemployment Insurance (UI) initial claims. We understand, however, that this good news is tempered by the record-high number of claims overall,” said Dan Ellzey, Executive Director, S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.
“During the heart of the 2008-2009 Great Recession, laid-off employees were filing an average of 10,000 new claims per week. While the number of new claims we reported today is a great improvement over the numbers three weeks ago, it is still well over four times higher than the number of initial weekly claims being filed during the Great Recession,” Ellzey continued.
“I am excited to see employers begin to reopen and bring South Carolinians back to work. Restarting the economy and engaging the workforce is important in helping people move from the temporary federal funding to employment with long-term stability,” Ellzey finished.
Agency Responsiveness:
- From March 15, 2020 to May 5, 2020, the agency has paid more than $831 million in a combination of state UI benefits, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (for the self-employed and others) and the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation ($600 per week) program.
- On March 15, the agency had approximately 49 employees working in the call center. They were able to handle the call level at that point. In an attempt to meet current demand, we have added staff to our call centers that now total more than 500 employees.
- The Chatbot feature on the dew.sc.gov website continues to grow! This is a great resource for finding FAQ type information about the UI process, federal funds provided through the CARES Act, employer filing and more.
- Visit the COVID-19 Resource Hub, dew.sc.gov website or our social media platforms for updated information.
DEW Continues to Add Resources as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program Successfully Launches in South Carolina
More than 4.6 Million in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) paid out over weekend as the agency continues to support South Carolinians
by South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
Since launching the self-service Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program on Friday, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce has released more than $4.6 million in federal PUA funding to eligible claimants.
Today DEW is encouraging individuals who have not returned to their portal to file for PUA to do so, and the agency is inviting those in the state who have yet to file a claim to begin the process.
To help with an additional anticipated spike in call volume, starting today, we will be extending hours for our call center. Please take note of the new hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Beginning May 2, 2020, Saturday hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
“My promise to South Carolina is that our staff is working around the clock to serve, and we are committed to these relief efforts until our communities can begin to reengage in employment and find a sense of normalcy. We
keep hearing the word unprecedented, but truthfully that word doesn’t truly paint a picture of what our state is experiencing right now. Our agency and our dedicated staff is rising to the challenge, and we assure you we will see this through,” said Jamie Suber, Department of Employment and Workforce Chief of Staff.
The agency ran a comparison of initial claims during the Great Recession versus current volume with the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the results are staggering. At the peak of the Great Recession, the largest week for initial claims was in April of 2018, with 13,848 initial claims filed. The peak experienced to date with the COVID-19 Pandemic is 87,686 claims in a one-week period of time.
“We know due to the massive call volumes we’ve been experiencing over the past weeks that not everyone is getting through to us on the phones, and we know there are frustrations because of that,” Suber said. “We continue to respond to that demand by training and adding staff to the phones each week, but simultaneously, our agency has continued to create resources designed to help you through this process. We would encourage people to utilize those resources or log back into the claims portal to check their status before calling. Allow individuals who have specific claim problems to talk with staff to help them resolve issues that might delay their benefits.”
Additional Resources:
- If you visit our website you will find:
- Eligibility scenarios for PUA, you can visit this link.
- Step-by-step instructions on how to apply.
- Claims process overviews.
- Tools specific to the PUA application process, including:
- A video tutorial with step-by-step instructions for the PUA application process.
- A PDF Tutorial with step-by-step instructions for the PUA application process.
- Updates to our FAQ materials for this program.
- If you visit our SC DEW YouTube you will find videos, including:
- Step-by-step instructions on how to register, file a claim and how to certify each week.
- Recording of town halls for employers and the self-employed.
- Our executive leadership speaking about our current unemployment situation.
- Employer resources: employer filed claims, understanding your dashboard and wage audit notices.
- On social media we will be looking for trends of common questions and posting hints and tips regularly. For instance, here are some hints and tips to help individuals with the PUA process:
- Once your PUA application is approved, you will need to certify each week in your MyBenefits portal.
- Once you begin seeing payment notices in your portal, it takes 24-72 hours to appear in your bank account, per your bank’s rules.
- If you have not filed prior to today, you would need to fill out a regular UI claim, and within 24 hours your regular UI eligibility will be determined. If found ineligible, you will then see an “Apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance” link on the customer menu page of your MyBenefits portal.
Here’s how to file for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA):
- If you have already filed in the MyBenefits portal: you will receive a notification with next steps. Please log into your portal, click the link on your dashboard and answer the prompted questions.
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If you have NOT already filed in the MyBenefits portal: Now is the time to apply. You can read more about the program and the process here, https://dew.sc.gov/individuals/self-employed or you can visit dew.sc.gov and click the MyBenefits portal in the top right corner.
To create a context for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance:
The state’s UI benefits program is funded by South Carolina employer taxes and therefore available to eligible employees of those businesses. The first program to be implemented under the CARES Act was the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program which provided $600 in additional weekly benefits to individuals who were eligible under the state UI program. In the last five weeks since the COVID-19 crisis began, the agency has paid more than $378 million in state UI benefits, to include the CARES Act $600 contribution.
The next federal program from the CARES Act to be implemented by the Department of Employment and Workforce is Federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). This program will provide 13 additional weeks of state unemployment insurance benefits after the 20 weeks provided under South Carolina law have exhausted. The agency is preparing this program to launch in the next few weeks as individuals potentially begin to exhaust their benefits.
SC DEW Implements Chatbot for Unemployment Questions
by South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce is excited to formally introduce South Carolinians to our Chatbot feature. The Chatbot, loaded on the dew.sc.gov website, includes valuable information about the unemployment insurance process.
While the MyBenefits portal will always provide the most up-to-date information on a specific claim, the Chatbot has answers about what to expect during the claims process, the new federal programs being implemented through the CARES Act, and answers specific to the employer experience.
Some examples include:
- What do I do after submitting my claim?
- Can I file if I am self-employed?
- How do I answer the able and available question during COVID-19?
To activate the Chatbot, you will enter your name, email address and whether you are an individual, self-employed or an employer.
There are two user-experiences with the Chatbot:
- You can select one of the automated most popular questions to read the answer.
- You can type your own question to receive a variety of prompts and answers.
Not only that, the Chatbot is intuitive. It captures questions entered by users to build a repository of frequently asked questions, while agency staff also contribute the top Q&A they hear from customer engagement. These efforts will continue to make the Chatbot more robust, based off real-time interaction.
The Chatbot icon is located on the top right side of the dew.sc.gov website or in the menu of the dew.sc.gov mobile-optimized version.
The Chatbot feature is just one of the many ways that the Department of Employment and Workforce is supporting the state during this critical time.
“Our agency is working around the clock to continue to build more resources for individuals and employers as they navigate the unemployment insurance system, many for the first time ever. We know the Chatbot feature will be an imperative tool for folks navigating our website for answers. We are getting ready to launch our second of three federal programs this week, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and to date we’ve paid out more than $216 million in federal $600 CARES Act funding to individuals. We are encouraged by the progress our state is making in providing critical funding to those who are in great need to keep the lights on and food on the table for their families. We have and will remain committed until our state’s workforce is able to get back on their feet and return to their jobs,” says Jamie Suber, Chief of Staff for the Department of Employment and Workforce.
South Carolina Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Data
Week Ending April 11, 2020
Initial Claims: In the week ending April 11, 2020, the advance figures for South Carolina initial claims* are 87,686, an increase of approximately 3.14% from the previous week’s count of 85,018 and a 4,293.09% increase from the week ending March 14, 2020 when only 1,996 initial claims were filed. This means that there were 87,686 individuals who both live and work in the state of South Carolina who filed an initial claim during that week. This is the data you will see reflected in the county information below.
Additional Agency Data and the Unemployment Insurance Process:
- The agency has processed 268,614 claims in the four weeks since the pandemic began as opposed to the four weeks prior to the pandemic when the agency processed a total of 7,783 initial claims.
- $114 million has been paid in $600 CARES Act benefits and regular South Carolina Unemployment Insurance benefits Sunday-Tuesday of this week alone. This is before the additional funds for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance have even reached the state.
- Working with our South Carolina business partners, as well as internally cross-training our workforce, we have been able to surge our call center staff from 46 customer service representative to 292 and more staff are being trained and added to the phones each day (to bring us up to more than 500 next week) to help respond to claimant questions.
- While call center hours for incoming calls – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday – have not changed, staff continue to work extended hours each week day and through weekends making outbound calls. These call backs respond to individuals captured in the queue and those whose claims require follow up from a claims specialist.
- A chat bot feature has been added to the website to help answer unemployment and COVID-related questions.
- If you are self-employed, a contractor, gig workers, file a 1099 – you are encouraged to go ahead and apply for unemployment insurance benefits. Because these types of employment are not eligible for state unemployment insurance benefits under regular program requirements, you will receive notification that you have been denied. However, this is the first step in the process to receive federal funds coming under the CARES Act’s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. In accordance with USDOL guidance, we will begin processing these applications in the coming weeks and notify you of your next steps for eligibility. If you are determined eligible, your funds will be paid retroactively.
- Please visit the COVID-19 Resource Hub or dew.sc.gov website for recently added Frequently Asked Questions about the filing and claims unemployment insurance process. Check the sites in order to avoid the wait!
Department of Employment and Workforce Begins Paying Millions in Federal $600 Stimulus Benefit
$53 million paid Sunday, first day in claim week
Department of Employment and Workforce is happy to report that $53 million dollars in federal stimulus money was paid out yesterday, Sunday, April 12, 2020. 64,000 South Carolinians received payment notices in their portal yesterday, and the money will be available for them to use within 24-72 hours, depending on their bank’s procedures. This figure includes some of the retroactive weeks in claimants’ accounts.
In addition to the $53 million dollars authorized through Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) funding, the agency also payed $10 million dollars in regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits yesterday. This is in addition to the $19 million dollars paid out in regular UI benefits last week, between Sunday, April 5 and Saturday, April 11.
“The four weeks prior to COVID-19, our agency has processed approximately 7,000 initial claims. In the four weeks since COVID-19, we have processed 266,000 initial claims. I am beyond proud of the work of our agency staff for rising to the challenge and assisting individuals who are relying on state and federal funding to help them keep food on their tables and their bills paid,” says agency executive director, Dan Ellzey. “There’s still a lot of work to be done, but please know our staff is dedicated to helping everyone. We encourage you to continue to check our website and COVID-19 Resource hub, as well as our social media channels as updates to resources are being made daily.”
Implementation timelines of federal programs released Friday on Facebook & Twitter:
Since receiving the guidance from the Department of Labor only a week ago, we have been working tirelessly with our vendor partner to expedite the massive system upgrades and changes that are required to accept the following temporary federal programs. We’re rolling out the programs in phases.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) will provide an additional $600 per week, in addition to regular unemployment insurance benefits, to eligible claimants. We began payouts on Sunday, April 12 and will continue making payments throughout this claim week. This temporary federal funding is approved from the claim week ending April 4, 2020 through the claim week ending July 25, 2020.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides compensation for individuals who weren’t previously found eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. We anticipate being able to accept claims for PUA no later than the claim week ending April 25. This temporary federal funding is approved from the claim week ending April 4, 2020 through the claim week ending December 26, 2020.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) will provide up to 13 additional weeks of benefits to those who have already exhausted their standard state UI benefits of 20 weeks. We anticipate being able to accept and process PEUC claims in the coming weeks. This temporary federal funding is effective for the claim week ending February 8, 2020 through the through the claim week ending December 26, 2020.
Please continue to monitor our Facebook page and Twitter account for updates. We are also updating our COVID-19 Resource Hub (linked from homepage) and our dew.sc.gov website.
Source: SC Department of Employment and Workforce
South Carolina Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Data
Week Ending April 4, 2020
Initial Claims: In the week ending April 4, 2020, the advance figures for South Carolina initial claims* was 85,018, an increase of approximately 31.09% from the previous week’s count of 64,856 and a 4,159.42% increase from the week ending March 14, 2020 when only 1,996 initial claims were filed. This means that there were 85,018 individuals who both live and work in the state of South Carolina who filed an initial claim during that week. This is the data you will see reflected in the county information below.
Additional Agency Data and the Unemployment Insurance Process:
1. The agency has processed 180,928 claims in the past three weeks as opposed to the prior three weeks when the agency processed a total of 5,862 initial claims.
2. $18,498,410 has been paid to South Carolinians from March 15 to April 4, 2020 and this is before the additional funds for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and the additional $600 from the CARES Act have even reached the state.
3. Call center staff has been increased by 400% in the past two weeks to help respond to claimant questions.
4. Over the weekend, the ICON Hub that validates social security numbers nationwide added server support in order to better accommodate volume. In South Carolina we are seeing more claimants able to process and complete a claim without an SSN validation issue.
5. Most individuals who are receiving benefits as a result of an Employer Filed Claim are receiving payments as quickly as 24 hours after their weekly certification.
6. If you are self-employed, a contractor, gig workers, file a 1099 – you can now apply for unemployment insurance benefits. We will take the claim, but the program will not be active at the time; however, if eligible, you will be paid retroactively once the funds are available.
7. Please visit the COVID-19 Resource Hub or dew.sc.gov website for recently added Frequently Asked Questions about the filing and claims unemployment insurance process. Check the sites in order to avoid the wait!
8. The unemployment insurance claims process is online. You do not have to visit an SC Works center to file for benefits. There is no “in-person” process.
9. Please visit our and social media as we will be communicating how this legislation will affect our process as soon as we know more.
April 6
S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce pays millions in unemployment insurance and encourages individuals to file in anticipation of the additional $600 weekly payment to be made available under the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act
“I am happy to report that our agency has paid out approximately $10 million in unemployment benefits from Sunday, March 29 through Thursday, April 2. We know this is much needed financial support for South Carolinians, and this is just the beginning of the benefits that will continue to flow into the state’s economy,” said Dan Ellzey, executive director of the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce. “We have been getting thousands of questions about the recently passed legislation, and I want to assure you that on Saturday, March 28, Gov. McMaster and I signed documentation to accept federal funds on behalf of South Carolina.
“While we do not yet have all of the guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor to implement these funds, I feel confident enough to advise individuals who have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19 – APPLY! We have listed the expanded eligibility details below, but I want to clarify that if you are already receiving benefits – you will not lose your $600 weekly addition – when we receive the federal funding, it will be applied to your account retroactively beginning with claims filed for the week ending April 4,2020.”
The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce encourages employees who believe they may qualify for the additional $600 weekly benefit, available under the CARES Act, to file a claim. These individuals will also need to login into their account each week to confirm that they are still unemployed. This is known as Weekly Certification.
Although S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce does not yet have technical guidance or a start date for the CARES Act provisions, there are many types of individuals who would not normally qualify for unemployment insurance benefits, such self-employed workers, that could be eligible under a program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).
Individuals who may be eligible include:
- Individuals who file a 1099
- Self employed
- Church employees
- Non-profit and governmental employees
- Indpendent contractors
- Gig economy workers
- Those who have exhausted their regular UI benefits
Subject to guidance from U.S. DOL for PUA, benefits may be paid retroactively from the time the employee separated from his or her job or otherwise became eligible under the federal CARES Act, not from the time the application was submitted or approved.
If you are one of these individuals, have applied for unemployment insurance benefits, and were not found eligible, you may be eligible for weekly benefits provided for under the CARES Act. We anticipate the system will recognize the date of your filing and determine your eligibility and whether additional information will be needed from you prior to retroactive payments being made.
These individuals must also meet one of these conditions:
- The individual has been diagnosed; or
- A member of the individual’s household has been diagnosed; or
- The individual is providing care to a household or family member; or a child or other person for which the individual has primary caregiving responsibility and is unable to attend school or another facility as a result of COVID-19; or
- The individual is unable to reach the place of employment because of a quarantine imposed as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency; or
- The individual is unable to reach the place of employment because the individual has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine; or
- The individual was scheduled to start work and does not have a job as a result of COVID-19; or
- The individual has become “the breadwinner or major support for a household because the head of the household has died as a direct result of COVID-19”; or
- The individual has to quit their job because of COVID-19; or
- The individual’s place of employment is closed because of COVID-19.
This list is not exhaustive.
Claims can be filed online by clicking the MyBenefits Portal on the top right side of the agency’s website: dew.sc.gov or by calling 1-866-831-1724. Patience is encouraged filing a claim.
For step-by-step instructions on how to file, visit dew.sc.gov/covid-hub and click on the jobseeker page. There you will find links to video and PDF tutorials as well as FAQs to answer common questions.
Further details regarding the CARES Act programs will be forthcoming, including information regarding Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, which provides the additional $600 a week in unemployment compensation benefits. The additional $600 weekly benefit will only be available for weeks beginning March 29, 2020. Other programs included in the act are Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC).
South Carolina Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Data
Week Ending March 28, 2020
Initial Claims: In the week ending March 28, 2020, the advance figures for South Carolina initial claims* was 64,856, an increase of approximately 108.85% from the previous week’s count of 31,054 and a 3,149.3% increase from the week ending March 14, 2020. This means that there were 64,856 individuals who both live and work in the state of South Carolina who filed an initial claim during that week. This is the data you will see reflected in the county information below.
Important Information to Know About the Unemployment Insurance Process
1. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act has been signed into law, but these benefits are not yet available and the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce is awaiting further guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor for state-specific implementation. For those who have already filed an unemployment insurance claim, please continue to file your weekly claim. For those who are self-employed, independent contractors, nonprofit employees, and gig economy workers, or requesting an extension of benefits and are not currently filing weekly claims, please continue to visit our website at dew.sc.gov, as we will continue to provide additional information and guidance as it becomes available.
2. Please visit our COVID-19 Resource Hub and social media as we will be communicating how this legislation will affect our process as soon as we know more.
3. Due to the influx of unemployment claims being filed, the national system known as ICON hub, which all states use to validate social security numbers on claims in real-time, is being overwhelmed with validation requests. We are required to validate social security numbers to avoid fraud and prevent identity theft. The Department of Labor is aware and is working to expand its database capacity.
4. The unemployment insurance claims process is 100 percent online. You do not have to visit an SC Works center to file for benefits. There is no “in-person” process.
5. Most of the questions our agency is receiving through our call center can be found on our website dew.sc.gov and our YouTube page SC DEW. Check the site in order to avoid the wait!
South Carolina Initial Unemployment Insurance Claims Data
Week Ending March 21, 2020
Intrastate Initial Claims: (within the state) In the week ending March 21, 2020, the advance figures for South Carolina intrastate initial claims* was 31,054, an increase of approximately 1600% from the previous week’s count of 1,996. This means that there were 31,054 individuals who both live and work in the state of South Carolina who filed an initial claim during that week. This is the data you will see reflected in the county information below.
Interstate Initial Claims: In the week ending March 21, 2020, the advance figures for South Carolina interstate initial claims was 772, an increase of approximately 800% from the previous week’s count of 97. This means that there were 772 individuals who live in South Carolina, but filed for unemployment insurance against another state.
County Map (Intrastate)
Important Information to Know About the Unemployment Insurance Process
1. The unemployment insurance claims process is 100 percent online. You do not have to visit an SC Works center to file for benefits. There is no “in-person” process.
2. Most of the questions our agency is receiving through our call center can be found on our website dew.sc.gov and our YouTube page SC DEW. Check the site in order to avoid the wait!
3. There are many exceptions to the unemployment insurance process due to federal and state assistance. We are updating our dew.sc.gov/covid-hub daily to explain these. Check back often. You can also follow our social media.
March 27, 2020
South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce has provided a quick help guide to individuals having issues entering an address when applying for unemployment benefits.
March. 17, 2020
Regional employment program SC Works Trident offices will close immediately through at least March 31 in an effort to mitigate the effects and spread of the coronavirus.
In order to offer access to services and resources during this time, SC Works Trident is providing the following options for residents:
- Unemployment Benefits: For assistance applying for unemployment benefits, claims representatives are available through Telclaim at 1 (866) 831-1724 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Customers can file for unemployment at scdew.gov/home/how-do-i-file-an-unemployment-claim.
- Job Searches: Customers can complete their job search at jobs.scworks.org/. For more information on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Program, please visit scworkstrident.org and complete the SC Works online orientation.
For more information about SC Works resources, contact Sharon Goss, Workforce Development Director, Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, at (843) 529-0400 or sharong@bcdcog.com.