What Day of the Week Is Unemployment Paid in SC?
Understand the South Carolina unemployment payment schedule, delivery methods, and factors influencing when you receive your benefits.
Understand the South Carolina unemployment payment schedule, delivery methods, and factors influencing when you receive your benefits.
Unemployment benefits in South Carolina provide temporary financial assistance to eligible individuals who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. These benefits serve as a partial wage replacement, helping to mitigate the financial impact of unemployment for residents across the state. The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW) administers this program, aiming to support individuals as they seek new employment opportunities.
In South Carolina, the process for receiving unemployment benefits typically begins with claimants certifying their weekly eligibility, which can be done starting Sunday for the prior week. Once a weekly certification is submitted, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW) generally processes these claims and initiates payments within two to three business days. For example, if a claimant certifies on Sunday, the payment could be issued by SCDEW as early as Tuesday or Wednesday of that week. It is important to understand that this timeframe refers to when SCDEW issues the payment, not necessarily when the funds become available in a recipient’s account.
Unemployment benefits in South Carolina are disbursed primarily through two electronic methods. Claimants can opt for direct deposit, where funds are electronically transferred directly into a personal checking or savings account. This method provides a secure and generally efficient way to receive benefits. Alternatively, recipients who do not have a traditional bank account, or prefer not to use one, will receive their payments on a Money Network Prepaid Visa Card. This card functions like a standard debit card, allowing access to funds for purchases and ATM withdrawals.
While the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (SCDEW) processes payments within a few business days of weekly certification, the actual time funds appear in a recipient’s account can vary. Financial institutions typically require one to three additional business days to post direct deposits to an account. Weekends and federal holidays can also extend this timeline, as banks do not process transactions on these days. Initial claims for unemployment benefits may experience a longer processing period, potentially taking 14 to 21 days for eligibility determination and the first payment to be issued.