Question 1

Can you get unemployment if you were fired in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

You may be ineligible if you were discharged for cause or for misconduct. If you are disqualified, you have to wait until the disqualification period ends and then reopen your claim or file a new one.

Question 2

Can you get unemployment if you quit in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

You may be ineligible if you quit without good cause, left for personal reasons unrelated to work, or retired voluntarily. DEW collects information from you and your former employer before deciding.

Question 3

Can you get unemployment if your hours were cut in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Benefits may be paid for any week in which you work less than full-time because your employer has no full-time work, as long as you earn less than your weekly benefit amount. Your employer may file a partial claim for you, called an Employer Filed Claim, for up to six weeks. While the employer is filing, you do not have to do the two weekly work searches.

Question 4

How much do you need to have earned to get unemployment in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

In your base period you must have wages in at least two quarters and at least $1,092 in your highest quarter. Your total base-period wages must be at least $4,455 and at least 1.5 times your highest quarter. The standard base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. If you do not qualify that way, an alternate base period is used. Your claim must also be against a bona fide employer, meaning your most recent employer that you separated from after earning at least 8 times your weekly benefit amount there.

Question 5

How much is unemployment in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Your weekly benefit is generally 50% of your average weekly wage in the highest quarter of your base period. It ranges from a minimum of $42 to a maximum of $350 a week, before taxes.

Question 6

How long can you get unemployment in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Up to 20 weeks. Your maximum benefit amount is the lesser of 20 times your weekly benefit amount or one-third of your total base-period wages. The benefit year runs one year from the effective date of your claim.

Question 7

Is there a waiting week for unemployment in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The first week of your claim is an unpaid waiting week. During that week you must be unemployed, meet the eligibility requirements and complete your work search.

Question 8

What are the work search requirements for unemployment in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Each week, Sunday through Saturday, you must complete two work searches that can be verified electronically in the SC Works Online Services (SCWOS) portal while logged into your SCWOS account. You must be able and available for work and ready to accept any suitable job.

Question 9

Does severance pay affect unemployment in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

Report any separation payments when you file your weekly claim; DEW will decide whether they are deductible. A pension is deducted only if it is based on your own work and is paid by a base-period or chargeable employer. The deduction equals the share your employer contributed. Military pensions are deducted at 100%.

Question 10

How do I apply for unemployment in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

File online any time through the MyBenefits portal at dew.sc.gov, or get help at 1-866-831-1724 (TTY 711). Each week, file a timely weekly certification that reports all work and gross earnings and confirms your two work searches.

Question 11

How do I appeal an unemployment denial in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

You must appeal to the Appeal Tribunal within 10 calendar days of the mailing date on the determination. A hearing officer holds a hearing by phone. If you disagree with the Appeal Tribunal's decision, you can appeal to the Appellate Panel within 10 calendar days of that decision's mailing date. Late appeals cannot be considered. Appeals are free. Keep filing weekly claims while you appeal.

Question 12

Can you work part-time and collect unemployment in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

If you earn less than your weekly benefit amount in a week, the part of your earnings above 25% of your weekly benefit amount is deducted from that week's benefit. If you earn more than your weekly benefit amount, you are not paid for that week.

Question 13

Can self-employed or gig workers get unemployment in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

You may not receive unemployment benefits if you are self-employed full time. While claiming, you must report earnings from all work, including odd jobs, self-employment, bonuses, commissions and tips.

Question 14

Where do I log in to my unemployment claim in South Carolina?

Accepted Answer

The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) MyBenefits portal is where you certify each week (Sunday through Saturday) for unemployment benefits; you must certify within 14 days after the week ends or you won't be paid for that week, and processing can take up to three business days. The portal's Dashboard tab shows detailed claim and payment status. You must also complete at least two online job searches each week through SC Works Online Services (SCWOS). DEW's general number is 1-866-831-1724 (Relay 711).

If you were fired	You may be ineligible if you were discharged for cause or for misconduct. If you are disqualified, you have to wait until the disqualification period ends and then reopen your claim or file a new one. Source: SC DEW, Claimant Handbook (as of 9/3/2025), "UI Eligibility Determinations"
If you quit	You may be ineligible if you quit without good cause, left for personal reasons unrelated to work, or retired voluntarily. DEW collects information from you and your former employer before deciding. Source: SC DEW, Claimant Handbook (as of 9/3/2025), "Qualifying for UI Benefits" and "UI Eligibility Determinations"
Layoffs and reduced hours	Benefits may be paid for any week in which you work less than full-time because your employer has no full-time work, as long as you earn less than your weekly benefit amount. Your employer may file a partial claim for you, called an Employer Filed Claim, for up to six weeks. While the employer is filing, you do not have to do the two weekly work searches. Source: SC DEW, Claimant Handbook (as of 9/3/2025), "Partial Employment" and "Employer Filed Claims"
Earnings needed to qualify	In your base period you must have wages in at least two quarters and at least $1,092 in your highest quarter. Your total base-period wages must be at least $4,455 and at least 1.5 times your highest quarter. The standard base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. If you do not qualify that way, an alternate base period is used. Your claim must also be against a bona fide employer, meaning your most recent employer that you separated from after earning at least 8 times your weekly benefit amount there. Source: SC DEW, Claimant Handbook (as of 9/3/2025), "Base Period" and "Monetary Eligibility"
Self-employed, 1099 and gig workers	You may not receive unemployment benefits if you are self-employed full time. While claiming, you must report earnings from all work, including odd jobs, self-employment, bonuses, commissions and tips. Source: South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, Claimant Handbook

Weekly benefit amount	Your weekly benefit is generally 50% of your average weekly wage in the highest quarter of your base period. It ranges from a minimum of $42 to a maximum of $350 a week, before taxes. Maximum $350 per week, which DEW's handbook (as of Sept. 3, 2025) calls "currently" in effect. The exact effective date of the $350 maximum was not stated. Source: SC DEW, Weekly Benefit Amount page; Claimant Handbook (as of 9/3/2025)
How many weeks	Up to 20 weeks. Your maximum benefit amount is the lesser of 20 times your weekly benefit amount or one-third of your total base-period wages. The benefit year runs one year from the effective date of your claim. Source: SC DEW, Weekly Benefit Amount page; Claimant Handbook (as of 9/3/2025)
Waiting week	Yes. The first week of your claim is an unpaid waiting week. During that week you must be unemployed, meet the eligibility requirements and complete your work search. Source: SC DEW, Claimant Handbook (as of 9/3/2025), "Waiting Week"
Working part-time on benefits	If you earn less than your weekly benefit amount in a week, the part of your earnings above 25% of your weekly benefit amount is deducted from that week's benefit. If you earn more than your weekly benefit amount, you are not paid for that week. Source: SC DEW, Claimant Handbook (as of 9/3/2025)
Severance and vacation pay	Report any separation payments when you file your weekly claim; DEW will decide whether they are deductible. A pension is deducted only if it is based on your own work and is paid by a base-period or chargeable employer. The deduction equals the share your employer contributed. Military pensions are deducted at 100%. Source: SC DEW, Claimant Handbook (as of 9/3/2025), "Deductions" and "Pension Reduction"

How to apply	File online any time through the MyBenefits portal at dew.sc.gov, or get help at 1-866-831-1724 (TTY 711). Each week, file a timely weekly certification that reports all work and gross earnings and confirms your two work searches. Source: SC DEW, Applying for Benefits; Claimant Handbook (as of 9/3/2025)
Work search requirements	Each week, Sunday through Saturday, you must complete two work searches that can be verified electronically in the SC Works Online Services (SCWOS) portal while logged into your SCWOS account. You must be able and available for work and ready to accept any suitable job. Source: SC DEW, Claimant Handbook (as of 9/3/2025), "Work Search"
Appealing a denial	You must appeal to the Appeal Tribunal within 10 calendar days of the mailing date on the determination. A hearing officer holds a hearing by phone. If you disagree with the Appeal Tribunal's decision, you can appeal to the Appellate Panel within 10 calendar days of that decision's mailing date. Late appeals cannot be considered. Appeals are free. Keep filing weekly claims while you appeal. Source: SC DEW, Claimant Handbook (as of 9/3/2025), "Appeal Rights"
Logging in and filing weekly claims	The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) MyBenefits portal is where you certify each week (Sunday through Saturday) for unemployment benefits; you must certify within 14 days after the week ends or you won't be paid for that week, and processing can take up to three business days. The portal's Dashboard tab shows detailed claim and payment status. You must also complete at least two online job searches each week through SC Works Online Services (SCWOS). DEW's general number is 1-866-831-1724 (Relay 711). MyBenefits login: https://scuihub.dew.sc.gov/CSS/CSSLogon.htm Source: South Carolina DEW, Manage Your Weekly Benefits

South Carolina Unemployment Benefits: Who Qualifies, How Much, and How to Apply

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