South Carolina's Basic Requirements

To receive unemployment benefits in South Carolina, you must meet four core requirements set by state law. You must have lost your job through no fault of your own—meaning you were laid off, had your hours cut, or were fired for reasons unrelated to misconduct. You must have earned enough wages during a specific lookback period. You must be able and available to work. And you must be actively searching for work while you receive benefits.

South Carolina's Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW) administers the program. The state uses a 12-month "base period" to measure your earnings—typically the first four of the five calendar quarters before you file your claim. This means if you file in January 2024, SCDEW looks back at your wages from January through December 2023.

Key Takeaways

  • You must have lost your job through no fault of your own; quitting or being fired for misconduct disqualifies you in most cases.
  • South Carolina requires you to have earned at least $1,300 during your base period, with no single quarter accounting for more than 150% of your highest other quarter.
  • You must report that you are able to work, available to work, and actively searching for work each week you claim benefits.
  • Benefits are reduced or denied if you refuse suitable work or fail to report to a job interview without good cause.
  • You have a limited time to file your claim after losing your job; delays can reduce the amount you receive.

Earnings Requirements and the Base Period

South Carolina has a two-part earnings test. First, you must have earned at least $1,300 total during your base period. Second, your highest-earning quarter cannot be more than 150% of your second-highest quarter. This second rule prevents someone who worked one quarter and earned nothing the rest from meeting the requirement.

The base period is fixed at the time you file. If you file in January 2024, your base period is October 2022 through September 2023. SCDEW uses the wages your employer reported to the state, not what you report yourself. If your employer failed to report your wages correctly, you can provide documentation—pay stubs, W-2 forms, or a letter from your employer—to correct the record.

Self-employment income does not count toward these requirements. If you were self-employed and lost that income, you do not meet South Carolina's earnings test, though you may be able to file under federal Pandemic Unemployment information (PUA) rules if that program is active.

Separation from Employment: What Counts and What Doesn't

The reason you left your job determines whether you can receive benefits. Layoffs and reductions in force always may have access to. Lack of work—when your employer has no hours available—qualifies. Temporary layoffs may have access to, even if your employer says you may be called back.

Quitting disqualifies you unless you quit for "good cause attributable to the employer." Good cause means the job became intolerable through no fault of your own—unsafe conditions, wage theft, or a substantial change in job duties without your consent. straightforward disliking your job, disagreeing with management, or wanting higher pay does not count.

Misconduct disqualifies you. South Carolina defines misconduct as deliberate or willful violation of reasonable employer rules, or deliberate disregard of the employer's interests. A single mistake, poor performance despite effort, or inability to do the job does not count as misconduct. Being fired for attendance after a documented medical emergency, for example, would not be misconduct. Being fired for repeated unexcused absences would be.

If you were fired, SCDEW will contact your employer to learn the reason. You will have a chance to explain your side. The state makes the final information.

Work Search and Availability Requirements

Each week you claim benefits, you must report that you are able to work and available to work. This means you have no health condition or other barrier preventing you from accepting a job, and you are not in school full-time or otherwise unavailable during normal business hours.

You must also be actively searching for work. South Carolina requires you to document your work search activities—the jobs you applied for, the dates, the employers' names, and how you applied. You do not have to submit these records every week, but SCDEW can ask for them at any time, and you must be able to produce them. Typical acceptable activities include submitting applications online, attending job interviews, registering with a staffing agency, or attending a job training program.

If you refuse a job offer or fail to report to a scheduled interview without good cause, your benefits are reduced or stopped. Good cause includes illness on the day of the interview, a family emergency, or being offered a job at substantially lower wages or in a different field than your usual work. Oversleeping or forgetting about an interview is not good cause.

Disqualifying Factors and Waiting Periods

Beyond separation reason and work search, several other situations can disqualify you or delay your benefits. If you are receiving workers' compensation for a work injury, you cannot receive unemployment benefits for the same period. If you are in prison or incarcerated, you are not may be able to access. If you are receiving a pension from a former employer based on your service with that employer, your weekly benefit is reduced by a portion of that pension.

South Carolina has a one-week waiting period. This means the first week you are unemployed and meet all other requirements, you do not receive a payment. Your benefits begin in the second week. This waiting period applies once per benefit year.

If you received unemployment benefits in a previous year and are filing a new claim, SCDEW will check whether you have earned enough since your last claim ended. If you have not worked enough to establish a new base period, you may be denied, or your benefits may be calculated using an "alternate base period" (the most recent four completed calendar quarters). The rules for this are complex, and SCDEW can explain your specific situation if you call.

How to File and What Happens Next

You file your claim online through the SCDEW website (dew.sc.gov) or by phone at 1-866-831-1724. You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or ID number, and information about your last employer. Filing online is faster and creates a record you can access later.

After you file, SCDEW sends a notice to your last employer asking them to respond to your claim. Your employer has 10 days to provide information about your separation and wages. During this time, your claim is "pending." You can file weekly claims while your claim is pending, but you will not receive payment until SCDEW makes a information.

If SCDEW approves your claim, you will receive a notice stating your weekly benefit amount and the date your benefits begin. If SCDEW denies your claim, you will receive a notice explaining the reason. You have the right to appeal a denial within 10 days of the notice date. Appeals are heard by a hearing officer, and you can present evidence and testimony.

Special Situations: Partial Unemployment and Reduced Hours

If you are still working but your hours or wages have been reduced, you may be able to receive partial benefits. South Carolina allows you to earn up to a certain amount each week before your benefit is reduced. The exact amount depends on your weekly benefit rate, but generally, you can earn about one-third of your weekly benefit without any reduction. Earnings above that threshold reduce your benefit dollar-for-dollar.

You must report your earnings each week you claim. If you do not report earnings and SCDEW discovers you worked, you may be required to repay benefits and face a penalty. If you are working part-time while searching for full-time work, you are still considered unemployed and can receive partial benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I was fired but I don't think it was for misconduct?

SCDEW will contact your employer and ask why you were fired. You will receive a notice and have a chance to respond. If you disagree with SCDEW's decision, you can appeal within 10 days. At the appeal hearing, you can present your side of the story and any evidence—emails, witness statements, or documentation of the incident.

How long does it take to get my first payment?

If your claim is approved, you typically receive your first payment within two to three weeks of filing. This includes the one-week waiting period plus time for SCDEW to process your claim and your employer to respond. If your employer contests your claim, it may take longer.

Can I receive benefits if I quit my job?

Only if you quit for good cause attributable to the employer—meaning the job became intolerable through no fault of your own. Quitting because you found another job, wanted higher pay, or disliked your manager does not count. You must be able to show that you tried to resolve the problem with your employer before quitting.

What if I'm not sure whether I meet the earnings requirement?

SCDEW will calculate this when you file. You do not need to calculate it yourself. If you are denied for insufficient earnings, you can appeal and provide documentation of wages your employer may not have reported correctly, such as pay stubs or a W-2.

Do I have to search for work in my same field?

No. You must search for work you are able to do, but this can include different fields or lower-wage jobs than your previous position. However, if you refuse a job offer in a substantially different field or at much lower wages, that refusal may be considered good cause and not disqualify you.