South Carolina unemployment benefits pay 50% of your average weekly wage in the high quarter. — up to $350 per week for up to 13-20 weeks, for the period January 1, 2026 (DOL table); this state resets each July, so the July 2026 adjustment may not be in this figure.
This guide gives the exact South Carolina unemployment benefits figures with the date we verified them, shows how your own weekly amount is calculated with a worked example, and explains when the first payment arrives and how it is taxed.
Figures are from the United States Department of Labor’s state-law tables effective January 1, 2026, read October 2026; confirm the current amount with South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) before you rely on it.
South Carolina Unemployment Benefits at a Glance
| Maximum weekly benefit | $350 (January 1, 2026 (DOL table); this state resets each July, so the July 2026 adjustment may not be in this figure) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $42 |
| How the amount is set | 50% of your average weekly wage in the high quarter. |
| Duration | up to 13-20 weeks |
| Waiting week | Yes — first eligible week unpaid |
| Base period | The first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the week you file. |
| Statute | S.C. Code 41-27 to 41-41 |
In This South Carolina Unemployment Benefits Guide:
How Much Are South Carolina Unemployment Benefits?
50% of your average weekly wage in the high quarter. The minimum weekly payment is $42 and the maximum is $350. Those are the numbers that matter: most claimants land between them, and nobody is paid above the cap no matter how much they earned.
Want an estimate for your own wages in South Carolina?
South Carolina Unemployment Benefits at a Glance
Figures are from the United States Department of Labor’s state-law tables effective January 1, 2026, read October 2026; confirm the current amount with South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) before you rely on it. The statute column is where to check it yourself.
| Maximum weekly benefit | $350 |
| Effective period | January 1, 2026 (DOL table); this state resets each July, so the July 2026 adjustment may not be in this figure |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $42 |
| Formula | 50% of your average weekly wage in the high quarter. |
| Duration (weeks) | 13-20 |
| Waiting week | Yes |
| Base period | The first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the week you file. |
| Alternate base period | Yes |
| To qualify | Base-period wages of 1.5 times the high quarter, at least $4,455, with $1,092 in the high quarter. |
| Partial-week earnings | 1/4 of the weekly benefit amount |
| Agency | South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) |
| File online | https://dew.sc.gov/individuals/apply-for-benefits |
| Statute | S.C. Code 41-27 to 41-41 |
How South Carolina Unemployment Benefits Are Calculated
South Carolina sets the weekly benefit at 50 percent of your weekly average wage in your highest-paid base-period quarter, which works out to that quarter’s wages divided by 26. The result is rounded down to the nearest whole dollar and then held between the state minimum and maximum (S.C. Code § 41-35-40). The state generally adds no allowance for dependents.
Base-period wages of 1.5 times the high quarter, at least $4,455, with $1,092 in the high quarter.
South Carolina Unemployment Benefits: A Worked Example
Say a worker earned 7800 in their highest-paid base-period quarter. 7800 divided by 26 is 300, so the formula would give about 300 a week, as long as that falls within the state’s limits. This is only an example; your actual amount is set by DEW. The estimate is illustrative; South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) computes the official amount from your wage records.
How Long South Carolina Unemployment Benefits Last
Regular South Carolina unemployment benefits run up to 13-20 weeks in a benefit year. No 2026 notice turning on extended benefits for South Carolina was found. Most claimants should expect regular state benefits only, and can check the U.S. Department of Labor’s current trigger notice to confirm. The first eligible week is a waiting week: you file for it but it is not paid.
Working Part-Time While Claiming South Carolina Unemployment Benefits
If you work part-time, you report your gross earnings for the week you did the work, even if you haven’t been paid yet. Earnings up to one-fourth of your weekly benefit amount generally don’t reduce the payment; earnings above that amount are subtracted from that week’s benefit (confirm the current rule with DEW).
1/4 of the weekly benefit amount Report every dollar on the weekly claim — unreported earnings are the most common route to an overpayment.
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Severance, vacation pay and pensions may delay or reduce benefits depending on how the employer allocates them — report them and let the agency apply the rule.
When and How South Carolina Unemployment Benefits Are Paid
The first payment usually arrives two to four weeks after filing, once the monetary determination is issued and the first weekly claim is processed. DEW pays benefits by direct deposit to your bank account or onto a prepaid Money Network debit card. If you don’t choose direct deposit, payments generally go to the card, which you need to activate before use.
Confirm your payment choice, or change it, in your MyBenefits portal account or with DEW. Each claim week runs Sunday through Saturday, and you request payment by completing a weekly certification in the MyBenefits portal. The state generally requires you to certify within 14 days after the week ends. If you miss that window, you won’t be paid for that week.
Payment can take up to 3 business days after an eligible certification.
Taxes on South Carolina Unemployment Benefits
Unemployment benefits are taxable income, and DEW does not withhold taxes unless you choose it. You can choose withholding when you file your claim and change it anytime in MyBenefits: 10 percent for federal tax and, per DEW, 7 percent for state tax. DEW mails Form 1099-G in late January, and you can also download it from the MyBenefits portal.
If you voluntarily retire, South Carolina generally disqualifies you indefinitely until you return to work and earn 8 times your weekly benefit amount. You must report gross earnings for any week you worked, even if you haven’t been paid yet. You can check claim and payment status anytime in the MyBenefits portal.
Next step: the amount only matters if you qualify. Our South Carolina eligibility guide covers the fired-vs-quit rules and the work-search count, and the application guide walks through filing.
South Carolina — the bottom line
- The South Carolina unemployment benefits amount is a share of your base-period wages up to a dated cap — check the period on the figure before you trust it.
- South carolina unemployment benefits are paid weekly for a set number of weeks; a missed weekly claim is a lost week.
- Part-time earnings reduce South Carolina unemployment benefits but rarely erase them — report everything and keep claiming.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is unemployment in South Carolina?
The weekly amount is 50% of your average weekly wage in the high quarter. The current maximum is $350 for the period January 1, 2026 (DOL table); this state resets each July, so the July 2026 adjustment may not be in this figure.
How long does unemployment last in South Carolina?
Regular benefits run up to 13-20 weeks in a benefit year, depending on your base-period wages. Extended benefits only switch on when the state unemployment rate crosses a trigger.
Does South Carolina have a waiting week?
Yes — the first eligible week is not paid, but you must still file for it.
Are South Carolina unemployment benefits taxable?
Unemployment benefits are taxable income, and DEW does not withhold taxes unless you choose it. You can choose withholding when you file your claim and change it anytime in MyBenefits: 10 percent for federal tax and, per DEW, 7 percent for state tax. DEW mails Form 1099-G in late January, and you can also download it from the MyBenefits portal.
Official South Carolina Sources & Resources
- South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW): https://dew.sc.gov/individuals/apply-for-benefits
- South Carolina unemployment statute: S.C. Code 41-27 to 41-41
- U.S. Department of Labor — Unemployment Insurance: dol.gov
- DOL Significant Provisions of State UI Laws (Jan 2026): https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/content/sigpros/2020-2029/January2026.pdf
- DOL Comparison of State UI Laws — Appeals: https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2023/appeals.pdf
- DOL Comparison of State UI Laws — Monetary Entitlement: https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2021/monetary.pdf
- CareerOneStop (DOL) — state benefit finder: careeronestop.org
- IRS — Form 1099-G: irs.gov
This South Carolina unemployment benefits guide was last verified against official South Carolina sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More South Carolina Unemployment Guides
- South Carolina Unemployment Eligibility: Who Qualifies
- How to Apply for Unemployment in South Carolina
- South Carolina Unemployment Appeal: Deadline and Hearing
- Unemployment Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Unemployment benefit amounts, deadlines and rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current figure and any deadline with your state unemployment agency before you act.