How to file for unemployment in South Carolina
The online claim is usually the fastest way. Here is what to have ready, when your claim starts and what comes after you file.
All about unemployment in South Carolina
Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.
Filing, step by step
File online through the MyBenefits portal, available 24 hours a day. You will verify your identity with ID.me. If you do not have a computer, use the resource room at any SC Works center or one of the 150+ Connection Points around the state, or call 1-866-831-1724.
When to file and when your claim starts
File as soon as you are out of work. Your claim starts on the Sunday of the week you file.
What to have ready
- Your Social Security number and identity information for ID.me verification
- Names, addresses and phone numbers of your employers and your work dates for the last 18 months
- Military service in the past 18 months: DD-214 (Member 4 copy)
- Federal civilian work: SF-50 or SF-8
Certify (claim your weeks)
How often: Weekly. File a weekly certification in the MyBenefits portal every week (Sunday to Saturday weeks), starting the week after you file. Report all gross earnings for the week you did the work. A weekly claim is on time if filed within 14 calendar days of the Saturday that ends the claim week; late or missed weeks cannot be paid.
Your first payment
The first week is an unpaid waiting week. After DEW issues a payment, it takes about two to three business days to reach your bank account; holidays can delay it. DEW also offers a prepaid debit card.
Register for work
You must register in SC Works Online Services (SCWOS) and complete your weekly job searches there, starting the week you file your claim.
SC Works Online Services (SCWOS)
Law: S.C. Code secs. 41-35-110(1)-(4)
Official source: Source page
What applies in every state
- File with the unemployment program of the state where you worked. If you worked in another state or in several states, the agency in the state where you live now can tell you how to file with other states.
- It generally takes two to three weeks after you file to get your first payment. Some states require a one-week waiting period, so the second week you claim is the first week paid.
Free help
Call 1-866-831-1724. Legal aid and other free help in South Carolina → Official sources →
More questions about unemployment in South Carolina
Is there a waiting week in South Carolina?
Yes. Before any benefits are paid, you must serve one unpaid waiting week. You must be unemployed that week, meet all eligibility rules, and complete your work search for it.