US South Carolina Unemployment Benefits — Updated October 2026
South Carolina Unemployment Benefits 2026: $350 Max, 13 to 20 Weeks and the Part-Time Cliff
⚠️ Informational only, not legal advice. The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) makes the official determination on every claim. Figures below are taken from S.C. Code Title 41, DEW Claimant Handbook, U.S. Department of Labor; anything we calculated ourselves is labeled “Computed by RemoteLaws.”
By the RemoteLaws Editorial Team · Updated October 27, 2026 · Sources: S.C. Code Title 41, DEW Claimant Handbook, U.S. Department of Labor
South Carolina Unemployment at a Glance (2026)
| Item | 2026 value | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly benefit | 50% of high-quarter average weekly wage (high quarter / 26), rounded down | S.C. Code 41-35-40(A), 41-27-140 |
| Minimum / maximum | $42 / $350 a week | 41-35-40; DEW benefits page |
| Maximum weeks | 20 weeks (13 to 20 depending on base wages) | 41-35-50 |
| Maximum claim | Lesser of 20 x WBA or 1/3 of base-period wages ($7,000 at most) | 41-35-50 |
| Wage tests | $1,092 high quarter, $4,455 base period, base wages at least 1.5 x high quarter | 41-27-310 |
| Base period | First 4 of last 5 completed quarters; alternate = last 4 completed | 41-27-150 |
| Waiting week | Yes, one unpaid week | 41-35-110(4); DEW Claimant Handbook |
| Part-time earnings | Benefit cut dollar for dollar above 1/4 of WBA; $0 if pay exceeds WBA | 41-35-60; Handbook |
| Work search | At least 2 electronically verifiable searches each week + SCWOS registration | DEW Claimant Handbook |
| Appeal deadline | 10 calendar days from the mailing date | DEW Claimant Handbook |
| Tax withholding | Optional: 10% federal, 7% state | DEW benefits page |
TL;DR
- South Carolina pays half your high-quarter weekly wage (high quarter divided by 26), from $42 to $350 a week. The cap kicks in at a $9,100 high quarter.
- At $350, South Carolina ties North Carolina for 43rd of 51 jurisdictions (DOL, July 2026). The national median maximum is $624.
- You get up to 20 weeks, but only if your whole base period adds up to 60 times your weekly benefit. Seasonal earners can get as few as 13.
- Working part-time? Earnings above a quarter of your benefit cut it dollar for dollar, and earning more than your weekly benefit amount drops it to $0.
How South Carolina Calculates Your Weekly Benefit
The statute uses two steps. Your average weekly wage is the pay from the highest quarter of your base period divided by 13 (41-27-140). Your weekly benefit amount is 50% of that figure, rounded down to the dollar (41-35-40(A)). In practice: high quarter / 26. The DEW handbook uses the same shortcut: $8,000 / 26 = $307 (Claimant Handbook).
| Highest quarter | Average weekly wage | Weekly benefit | Share of weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,092 | $84.00 | $42 | 50% |
| $2,600 | $200.00 | $100 | 50% |
| $5,200 | $400.00 | $200 | 50% |
| $7,800 | $600.00 | $300 | 50% |
| $9,100 | $700.00 | $350 | 50% |
| $13,000 | $1,000.00 | $350 | 35% |
| $20,000 | $1,538.46 | $350 | 23% |
Two details stand out. The $1,092 high-quarter minimum is exactly 26 x $42, so the smallest eligible high quarter produces exactly the $42 minimum. And the 50% replacement holds only up to a $9,100 high quarter (about $700 a week); above it, the $350 cap makes the replacement rate fall, to 23% at $20,000 a quarter.
South Carolina Unemployment Calculator: Estimate Your Benefit or a Part-Time Week
Enter the four quarters of your base period to see your weekly benefit, the maximum claim and how many full weeks it pays, then switch to the part-time tab to test a week of reduced work. Quarter labels update to the current base period.
13 or 20 Weeks: Why Seasonal Workers Get Less
Your maximum claim is the lesser of 20 times your weekly benefit or one-third of your base-period wages (41-35-50). Because the weekly benefit is about 1/26 of the high quarter, the full 20 weeks needs base wages of at least 60 x WBA, roughly 2.3 times your best quarter. At the legal minimum ratio (base wages 1.5 x the high quarter) the claim covers only about 13 weeks.
| Worker (high quarter $9,100) | Base-period wages | Weekly benefit | Maximum claim | Full weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonal, short off-season | $13,700 | $350 | $4,566 | 13.0 |
| Seasonal, two small quarters | $15,700 | $350 | $5,233 | 15.0 |
| Mixed year | $21,000 | $350 | $7,000 | 20.0 |
| Steady at the cap | $36,400 | $350 | $7,000 | 20.0 |
| Seasonal, just short | $13,600 | Not eligible | $0 | 0 (base wages under 1.5 x high quarter) |
The 1.5 x rule can disqualify a good earner
The last worker earned $13,600, more than three times the $4,455 floor, yet fails: 1.5 x $9,100 = $13,650 (41-27-310). Earning $50 more in an off quarter, or less in the peak quarter, would have qualified. If you fail the regular base period, DEW must check the alternate base period, the last four completed quarters (41-27-150(B)).
Part-Time Work: the Quarter Allowance and the Cliff
For a week of reduced work, you receive your weekly benefit minus every dollar of pay above one-fourth of it, rounded down (41-35-60). The handbook adds the limit: if your earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount, you are not eligible for that week (Claimant Handbook).
| Gross pay that week | Benefit (WBA $350) | Total income |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $350 | $350 |
| $87 | $350 | $437 |
| $150 | $287 | $437 |
| $250 | $187 | $437 |
| $300 | $137 | $437 |
| $349 | $88 | $437 |
| $350 | $87 | $437 |
| $351 | $0 | $351 |
| $400 | $0 | $400 |
Between $87.50 and $350 of pay, total income stays flat near $437: extra hours do not raise your income. At $351, the benefit disappears and income drops to $351, $86 less than a week at $349. If an employer offers a few more hours, check where the total lands before accepting. Report gross pay for the week you worked it, not when you are paid.
The $350 Cap Is a DEW Decision, Not a Statutory Limit
The law sets only a floor ($42) and a ceiling (66 2/3% of the statewide average weekly wage). Within that range, DEW sets the maximum each year and must publish it on its website (41-35-40(A)-(B)). A 2025 fiscal impact statement on Senate bill S.274 notes the $350 maximum applies to new claims effective on or after February 2, 2025, and DEW estimates the statutory range at $42 to $1,134 (S.274 fiscal impact statement). Disputes over your weekly amount go only through reconsideration under Section 41-35-640 (41-35-40(C)).
South Carolina vs North Carolina and Georgia
South Carolina pays the same top rate as North Carolina but for up to 8 more weeks, so its largest possible claim is $2,800 higher. Georgia pays $15 more a week but for at most 14 weeks. Nationally, South Carolina is tied for 43rd of 51 (U.S. DOL, July 2026). See the North Carolina and Georgia guides.
| State | Max weekly benefit | Max weeks | Largest possible claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $350 | 20 | $7,000 |
| North Carolina | $350 | 12 | $4,200 |
| Georgia | $365 | 14 | $5,110 |
Waiting Week, Work Search and Pension Offsets
- Waiting week: your first eligible week is not paid (41-35-110(4); handbook).
- Work search: at least two electronically verifiable work searches each week, plus registration in SCWOS at jobs.scworks.org (handbook). Part-time searches may be approved for people who mostly worked part-time.
- Separation payments: report them on your weekly claim; DEW decides whether they are deductible (handbook).
- Pensions: deductible only when two criteria are met, at the share your employer contributed; military pensions are deducted at 100% (handbook).
- Benefit year: runs one year from your claim date; if you exhaust the 20 weeks early you wait for the year to end before a new claim (DEW).
Taxes on South Carolina Unemployment
Benefits are taxable income and DEW does not withhold unless you choose it. You can elect withholding of 10% for federal tax and 7% for South Carolina tax when you file, and change it later in the MyBenefits portal (DEW benefits page; handbook). On a $350 week, both elections together take $59.50, leaving $290.50. See the South Carolina income tax guide.
Appeals: 10 Calendar Days
You must appeal within ten calendar days of the mailing date on the determination (Claimant Handbook). Keep filing weekly certifications while the appeal is pending. If your dispute is only about the weekly amount, use reconsideration under 41-35-640 (41-35-40(C)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a South Carolina unemployment calculator?
Yes. The calculator above applies S.C. Code 41-35-40 and 41-35-50: it divides your highest base-period quarter by 26 (rounded down, $42 to $350), caps the claim at the lesser of 20 weekly payments or one-third of your base wages, and estimates a part-time week under 41-35-60.
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in South Carolina in 2026?
$350 a week for up to 20 weeks, so $7,000 per benefit year at most. DEW set the $350 maximum for claims effective on or after February 2, 2025.
How is my South Carolina weekly benefit calculated?
It is 50% of your average weekly wage in your highest base-period quarter, which works out to the quarter total divided by 26, rounded down. A $7,800 high quarter gives $300 a week.
Why do I get fewer than 20 weeks?
Your total claim is limited to one-third of your base-period wages. Unless your base wages reach 60 times your weekly benefit, you get fewer than 20 full weeks; at the minimum ratio of 1.5 times the high quarter, about 13.
How much can I earn part-time and still collect?
Earnings up to one-fourth of your weekly benefit do not reduce it. Each dollar above that cuts the benefit by a dollar, and if your earnings exceed your weekly benefit amount you receive nothing for that week.
Is unemployment taxed in South Carolina?
Yes. DEW says claimants are responsible for income tax on benefits and offers optional withholding of 10% federal and 7% state.
How long do I have to appeal a DEW decision?
Ten calendar days from the mailing date on the determination, according to the DEW Claimant Handbook.
What We Verified & Correction Log
- Verified on October 27, 2026 against: S.C. Code Title 41, Chapter 35 (41-35-40, -50, -60, -110); S.C. Code Title 41, Chapter 27 (41-27-140, -150, -310); SC DEW, unemployment benefits information; SC DEW Claimant Handbook (file dated Sept. 3, 2025); SC Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, S.274 fiscal impact statement (Jan. 28, 2025); U.S. DOL, Significant Provisions of State UI Laws, July 2026.
- Update log: page rebuilt. Corrected: the previous version said South Carolina has no state income tax; DEW offers 7% state withholding and treats benefits as taxable. Corrected the legal basis for the maximum (41-35-40 sets a range; DEW sets $350). Added the 1/3 base-wage rule, the 1.5 x test, the alternate base period and the part-time cliff. Work search updated to the current handbook (two electronically verifiable searches each week). Next review: when DEW publishes a new maximum.