Work force centers open Saturday for jobless claims

Work force centers across South Carolina will be open this Saturday to assist in processing unemployment claims sparked by the passage by Congress this week of an extension of jobless benefits, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce has announced.

Staff Report
Published July 23, 2010

The extension of the federally funded Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended Benefits programs means new benefits will be available to those who have exhausted their state-funded regular unemployment benefits and who meet other eligibility criteria, said Executive Director John L. Finan.

Eligible claimants who exhausted their benefits earlier this year but have continued to file their weekly claim will receive a lump-sum check for all of their eligible, unpaid weeks retroactive to June 5 and will continue to receive weekly benefits until they exhaust eligibility or fail to meet eligibility requirements, the agency said. These people do not need to go to an office to receive their check or continue their weekly filing, the agency said.

SCDEW said in a statement that it has been preparing for the possible passage of this bill, and it is expected that these checks will be available and mailed to eligible recipients the Monday after the bill is signed. Those who receive their unemployment benefits by direct deposit or debit card should have their payments a little sooner than those receiving checks through the mail.

Those individuals who have not continued to file claims on a weekly basis will need to go to a local office for assistance and guidance.

In order to process the anticipated large volume of people impacted by this extension, SCDEW will open across the state at all 36 local Workforce Centers Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon to assist only those claimants affected by the legislation. Claimants desiring assistance with other services should go to the offices during regular operating hours.

For more information, refer to the agency website.