Where to File Your Claim

South Carolina processes unemployment claims through the Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW). You file your claim online at scworks.org, which is the official state portal. You do not mail a paper form or call a phone number to start — the online system is the only way to open a new claim.

The website works on any computer or phone with internet access. You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID number, and information about your most recent employer. Have these details ready before you start, because the form does not save your progress if you close the browser.

If you cannot use a computer, you can visit a South Carolina Works office in person. These are local workforce centers run by DEW. Find the one nearest you by searching "South Carolina Works office" plus your county name, or call 1-866-831-1724 to ask which location serves your area.

Key Takeaways

  • File your claim at scworks.org as soon as you lose your job, because your benefit week starts the day you file, not the day you lost work.
  • You will need your Social Security number, ID number, and your last employer's name, address, and phone number before you begin.
  • After you file, you must certify your claim every two weeks by logging back into scworks.org and confirming you are still out of work and looking for a job.
  • South Carolina typically processes claims within two to three weeks, but you can check your status anytime by logging into your account.
  • If DEW denies your claim, you have 30 days to request a hearing and explain why you believe the decision is wrong.

What Information You Need Before You Start

Gather these documents before you open the online form. You will enter information from them, and having them in front of you speeds up the process and reduces mistakes.

You need your Social Security number and the number from your driver's license or state ID card. You also need the name, street address, and phone number of the employer you just left. If you do not remember the phone number, search the company name online or call directory information.

Write down the dates you worked there — your start date and the date your job ended. If you were laid off or your hours were cut, note that. If you quit, resigned, or were fired, note that too. DEW asks about the reason you are no longer working, and your answer affects whether you are found to have "good cause" for leaving.

If you worked for more than one employer in the past 18 months, have their information ready as well. DEW uses your wage history to calculate your weekly benefit amount, so the more complete your work history, the more accurate your payment will be.

Step-by-Step: Filing Your Claim Online

Go to scworks.org and look for the "File a Claim" button on the homepage. Click it and select "Unemployment Insurance" from the menu. You will be asked to create a login account if you do not already have one. Use an email address you check regularly — DEW will send you updates about your claim there.

The form asks for your personal information first: name, address, phone number, and date of birth. Then it asks for your Social Security number and ID number. Enter these exactly as they appear on your documents.

Next, you will enter information about your most recent job. Type the employer's name, the street address, the city, state, and zip code, and the phone number. Then enter the date you started and the date your job ended. The system will ask why you are no longer employed — select the option that matches your situation (laid off, hours reduced, quit, fired, or other).

If you quit or were fired, DEW will ask you to explain why. Write a brief, factual description. For example: "Employer cut my hours to zero" or "I was terminated for being late." Do not argue or make excuses — just state what happened. This explanation goes to a DEW examiner if your claim is questioned later.

Review your answers before you submit. Once you click "Submit," your claim is filed. You will see a confirmation number on the screen — write it down or take a screenshot. DEW will also email you a confirmation.

What Happens After You File

DEW typically contacts your former employer within a few days to verify that you worked there and ask why your employment ended. Your employer may say you quit, were fired for misconduct, or were laid off. If your employer's answer matches yours, the process moves forward. If it does not, DEW may contact you to ask for more information.

You will receive a information letter in the mail within two to three weeks. This letter says whether your claim was approved or denied. If approved, it lists your weekly benefit amount and tells you when payments will start. If denied, it explains the reason — usually that you quit without good cause, or that you were fired for misconduct.

Do not wait for the letter to arrive. Log into your scworks.org account as soon as you file and check back every few days. You can see your claim status, any messages from DEW, and whether a information has been made.

Certifying Your Claim Every Two Weeks

Once your claim is approved, you must certify it every two weeks to keep receiving payments. Certification means you log into scworks.org, answer questions about whether you worked, earned money, or refused a job offer, and confirm that you are still out of work and looking for a job.

DEW will send you an email reminder when it is time to certify. The certification window usually opens on Sunday and closes on Friday. Certify as soon as the window opens — do not wait until Friday, because if the system is down or you run into a problem, you will miss the important date and your payment will be delayed.

Answer the questions honestly. If you worked part-time or earned any money during that week, report it. If you turned down a job offer, report that too. Lying on your certification can result in overpayment, which DEW will ask you to repay, and it can disqualify you from future benefits.

If you return to full-time work, stop certifying and contact DEW to close your claim. If you go back to part-time work, keep certifying and report your earnings — you may still receive a partial benefit.

If Your Claim Is Denied

A denial letter explains the reason. The most common reasons are that you quit without good cause, you were fired for misconduct, or you did not have enough wages in the past 18 months to meet South Carolina's minimum.

You have 30 days from the date on the denial letter to request a hearing. To request a hearing, log into scworks.org, find your claim, and look for the "Appeal" or "Request Hearing" button. You can also mail a written request to the address on the denial letter, but online is faster.

At the hearing, a DEW examiner will listen to your side of the story and your employer's side. You can speak by phone or video — you do not have to go to an office. Bring any documents that support your case: emails from your employer, text messages, pay stubs, or a written timeline of what happened. If you quit, be ready to explain why you had good cause — for example, unsafe working conditions, wage theft, or a medical reason you could not work.

Payment and Benefit Amounts

South Carolina calculates your weekly benefit amount based on your wages during the past 18 months. The state divides your total wages by 52 and pays you a percentage of that amount, up to a maximum. The maximum weekly benefit in South Carolina changes each year based on the state's average wage.

Payments are deposited into your bank account every two weeks, starting the week after your claim is approved. If you do not have a bank account, DEW can load your payments onto a debit card instead. You choose your payment method when you file your claim.

Your benefits last for up to 26 weeks in a regular benefit year. If you exhaust your regular benefits and unemployment is still high in South Carolina, extended benefits may become available, but that is rare and depends on the state's unemployment rate at the time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon after I lose my job should I file?

File as soon as possible. Your benefit week starts the day you file, not the day you lost your job. If you wait two weeks to file, you lose two weeks of potential payments. There is no penalty for filing early, and the sooner you file, the sooner DEW can process your claim.

Can I file if I was fired?

You can file, but whether you receive benefits depends on why you were fired. If you were fired for misconduct — such as stealing, violence, or repeated rule-breaking after warnings — you will likely be denied. If you were fired for poor performance, inability to do the job, or a mistake, you may be approved. Be honest about the reason on your form.

What if I quit my job?

You can file, but you must have had good cause to quit. Good cause means a serious reason, such as unsafe working conditions, wage theft, or a medical condition that made work impossible. Personal reasons like disliking your boss or wanting a different job are not good cause. Explain your reason clearly on the form.

How do I check the status of my claim?

Log into scworks.org with your email and password. Click on your claim and you will see whether it is pending, approved, or denied. You can also see any messages from DEW, your weekly benefit amount, and your payment history. Check your email regularly for updates from DEW as well.

What if I move or change my phone number?

Update your contact information in your scworks.org account right away. Log in, go to your profile, and edit your address and phone number. DEW uses this information to contact you about your claim, so keeping it current is important.