Where to File and What You Need Before You Start

South Carolina's unemployment system is run by the Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), and you file entirely online through their website at dew.sc.gov. There is no phone line to call and no office to visit to submit your claim — everything happens through the portal. You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or ID number, and information about your last employer (company name, address, and dates you worked there).

Before you open the process, gather your employment history for the past 18 months. DEW will ask about every job you held during that time, including start and end dates. If you were laid off, fired, or quit, have a clear explanation ready — the reason for separation matters because it determines whether you are disqualified. You should also know your weekly pay or annual salary from your last job, since that affects your benefit amount.

The filing process itself takes about 15 to 20 minutes if you have all your information ready. You can file on any day of the week, at any time. DEW does not have a important date to file within a certain number of days of losing your job, but benefits are backdated only to the week you actually file, so filing sooner means you receive money sooner.

Key Takeaways

  • File online at dew.sc.gov — South Carolina does not accept phone or in-person claims.
  • Have your Social Security number, ID number, and last employer's details ready before you start.
  • Your weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings in the highest-paid quarter of the past 18 months, and the maximum weekly benefit in South Carolina varies by year.
  • You must certify your claim every two weeks by logging back into the portal and confirming you are still out of work and looking for a job.
  • If DEW denies your claim, you have 30 days from the denial letter to request a hearing before an administrative law judge.

How Your Benefit Amount Is Calculated

South Carolina bases your weekly benefit on your highest-paid quarter in the 18 months before you file. A quarter is three consecutive months — January through March, April through June, July through September, or October through December. DEW takes your total earnings in that quarter, divides by 13, and that becomes your weekly benefit amount. The state has a maximum weekly benefit amount that changes each year; you can find the current maximum on the DEW website.

Your benefit is not the full amount you earned. It replaces roughly 50 percent of your average weekly wage, up to the state maximum. If you earned $600 per week, your benefit might be around $300 per week. If you earned $200 per week, your benefit would be roughly $100 per week. The exact percentage depends on your total quarterly earnings and the state's formula for that year.

You receive benefits for up to 12 weeks in a benefit year, which runs from July 1 to June 30. If you exhaust those 12 weeks, you do not automatically receive more — you would need to file a new claim in the next benefit year. During times of high unemployment, South Carolina may offer extended benefits, but those are not may provide and depend on the state's unemployment rate.

Reasons You Might Be Disqualified

DEW will deny your claim if you quit your job without good cause, were fired for misconduct, or are receiving severance pay that covers the week you are claiming. Good cause means a reason a reasonable person would quit — unsafe working conditions, wage theft, or a significant change in job duties. Quitting because you did not like your boss or wanted a different schedule usually does not count as good cause.

You are also disqualified if you are receiving workers' compensation for the same week, if you are in school full-time and not available to work, or if you refuse a suitable job offer without good reason. If you are self-employed or an independent contractor, you generally cannot file for unemployment — that program covers employees only.

If DEW denies your claim, you will receive a written notice explaining why. You have 30 days from the date on that letter to request a hearing. The hearing is conducted by an administrative law judge who reviews your case and the employer's response. You can represent yourself or bring someone to help you, and you can submit documents or witness statements as evidence.

The Two-Week Certification Process

After you file your initial claim, you must certify every two weeks to keep receiving benefits. Certification means logging back into your DEW account and confirming that you were out of work during those two weeks and that you looked for a job. You will answer questions about whether you worked, earned any income, or refused any job offers.

DEW sends you a notice telling you when your certification period ends and when you must certify by. You can certify online anytime during that two-week window — you do not have to wait until the last day. If you miss the important date, your benefits stop until you certify, and you may lose the money for that week entirely.

During certification, you must report any income you earned, including gig work, part-time jobs, or self-employment. If you earned money, your benefit is reduced by a portion of what you made — you do not lose the entire benefit, but it is reduced. You must also report if you refused a job offer or if an employer contacted you about returning to work.

What Happens After You File

Once you submit your claim, DEW has up to two weeks to review it and send you a information letter. That letter tells you whether your claim was approved or denied and explains your weekly benefit amount if approved. If approved, your first payment arrives within one to two weeks after the information, usually by direct deposit to a bank account or onto a debit card DEW provides.

If your employer disputes your claim — for example, by saying you were fired for misconduct rather than laid off — DEW will contact you and ask for your side of the story. You can respond in writing or request a hearing. The employer's response does not automatically disqualify you; DEW weighs both accounts.

Payments continue every two weeks as long as you certify on time and remain out of work. If you return to work, even part-time, you must report it during certification. Your benefit will be reduced based on your earnings, but you may still receive a partial payment if you earned less than your full weekly benefit amount.

If Your Claim Is Denied or You Disagree With Your Benefit Amount

A denial letter includes the reason DEW rejected your claim and the date by which you can request a hearing — usually 30 days from the letter date. To request a hearing, log into your DEW account, find your claim, and select the option to appeal. You can also mail or fax a written request to the address listed on the denial letter.

At the hearing, an administrative law judge will review documents, listen to your explanation, and hear from your employer if they choose to participate. You can bring documents that support your case — for example, a doctor's note if you quit due to illness, or pay stubs showing you were not paid as promised. The judge will issue a written decision within a few weeks.

If you disagree with the judge's decision, you can appeal to the South Carolina Court of Appeals, but this is rare and requires legal grounds — not straightforward disagreeing with the outcome. Most people who lose at the hearing level do not pursue further appeal.

Special Situations: Partial Unemployment and Reduced Hours

If you are working part-time or have had your hours cut but are still employed, you may be able to file for partial unemployment. You report your part-time earnings during certification, and DEW reduces your benefit by a portion of what you earned. This allows you to receive some unemployment money while you look for full-time work or wait for your hours to return to normal.

If you are on temporary layoff and your employer told you that you will be called back within a specific timeframe, you can still file for unemployment. You must report during certification that you are on layoff and expect to return. If your employer calls you back before your benefits run out, you stop certifying and your claim ends.

If you are in a union and subject to a union hiring hall, you may have different rules. Some union agreements require you to register with the hiring hall before filing for unemployment. Check your union contract or contact your union representative to understand what you must do.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get my first payment after I file?

DEW typically takes one to two weeks to review your claim and send a information letter. If approved, your first payment arrives within one to two weeks after that, so expect three to four weeks total from the day you file. Payments are made by direct deposit or onto a debit card, whichever you choose during your process.

Can I file for unemployment if I was fired?

Yes, but only if you were not fired for misconduct. If you were fired for poor performance, attendance issues, or violating a reasonable workplace rule, DEW will likely deny your claim. If you were fired for an unfair reason or without a legitimate cause, you may be approved. You will have a chance to explain your side during the review process.

What if I move out of South Carolina while receiving benefits?

You can continue to receive South Carolina benefits if you move, but you must continue to certify every two weeks and report that you are looking for work. Some states have reciprocal agreements with South Carolina, so you may be able to file with your new state instead. Contact DEW to ask about your specific situation.

Do I have to report job search activities, or just answer that I looked for work?

During certification, you confirm that you looked for work, but you do not have to list specific companies or jobs you applied to. However, if DEW suspects you are not actively searching, they may ask for details. It is a good idea to keep a record of your job search — dates you applied, companies you contacted, and any interviews — in case DEW asks for proof.

What if I receive a settlement or severance payment from my employer?

Severance pay that covers the week you are claiming disqualifies you from benefits for that week. If your severance covers multiple weeks, you are disqualified for all of those weeks. Lump-sum settlements that are not tied to specific weeks do not disqualify you, but you should contact DEW to ask how they will treat your specific payment.