South Carolina Unemployment Tiers Information
If you become unemployed and you live in South Carolina, you must file an unemployment claim to receive benefits. This can be done online, by telephone or in person. The South Carolina Employment Security Commission website will supply you with all the information you need to apply. After you file your claim, you will receive an Initial Determination of benefits. This form will tell you what your weekly benefit amount will be and for how long you will receive that benefit. Usually, you will receive benefits for 26 weeks.
However, due to the country’s high unemployment rates, the federal government has instituted an emergency unemployment compensation (EUC) program. This program allows the unemployed to receive additional unemployment compensation on a tier basis. Tier One provides for an additional 20 weeks of unemployment compensation after you have exhausted your normal South Carolina benefits. Tier Two provides an additional 6 weeks after Tier One. Now recently, two additional tiers have been added. Tier Three provides for an additional 13 weeks and Tier Four provides an additional 6 weeks.
South Carolina’s Employment Security Commission sends out notices to those who qualify for additional benefits. When you receive a notification, you must go to your local workforce office to apply. You cannot apply for Tier benefits online or through the state’s telephone claims line. To locate your local workforce office, log on to the South Carolina Employment Security Commission website and click on Find A One Stop Office. If you are living out-of-state, you can call the Interstate Unit at 1-800-529-8339 to file your claim. If you do not receive a notice to apply for additional benefits, by all means call or visit your Employment Office to see if you do qualify.
Each additional tier of unemployment compensation requires you to file or renew your claim. In addition, you must continue to meet unemployment compensation eligibility. You must be available to work. You must be available for full-time work. You must report to your local Employment Service Office when directed. You must be able to show that you are actively looking for full-time work. If you don’t cooperate with the above directions, you may be declared ineligible for benefits.
The federal government has extended the EUC program and may do so again. Remember to check periodically for additional extensions to this unemployment compensation emergency program.