Unemployment Benefits Estimator — South Carolina

Unemployment Benefits Estimator in South Carolina

South Carolina pays 50% of your average weekly wage, computed from high-quarter wages, inside a $42 floor and the $350 maximum DEW publishes each year. Duration is capped at 20 weeks rather than 26, and your own total is the lesser of 20 weekly payments or a third of base-period wages, so the practical range runs 13 to 20 weeks — plan the claim around roughly four months, not six. One unpaid waiting week applies before the first payment. South Carolina's SNAP program uses broad-based categorical eligibility with a 200% FPL gross income limit, which is worth checking given how quickly a 20-week claim runs out. Apply at https://dew.sc.gov/

Unemployment Benefits in South Carolina: Weekly Amounts and How Long They Last

South Carolina pays a weekly unemployment benefit of between $42 and $350. Those are the statutory floor and ceiling, not an estimate of what you personally would receive: your weekly benefit amount is calculated from the wages in your base period, and the maximum is reached only if those wages were high enough. South Carolina computes it this way — Weekly benefit amount is 50% of the claimant's average weekly wage (computed from high-quarter wages), subject to the $42 statutory minimum and the maximum published annually by DEW.

• Weekly benefit range: $42 to $350
• Weeks payable: up to 20 weeks; the payable range runs 13 to 20 weeks, because lower base-period earnings exhaust a claim sooner
• Waiting week: yes — the first otherwise-payable week is unpaid, and you generally still have to file a weekly claim for it
• In effect since: January 1, 2026

How South Carolina decides how many weeks you get: Shortened duration: South Carolina caps regular state benefits at 20 weeks, not 26. Total benefits are the lesser of 20 times the weekly benefit amount or one-third of base-period wages, so claimants with lower base-period earnings get fewer weeks; USDOL reports the practical range as 13-20 weeks.

Source and date: these South Carolina figures were verified on August 2, 2026 against SC Department of Employment and Workforce, 'Weekly Benefit Amount'; corroborated by S.C. Code Ann. 41-35-40 and 41-35-50, and are the amounts that agency shows as in effect since January 1, 2026. Benefit amounts and durations change — many states re-index once a year, and some change duration as the state unemployment rate moves — so check the agency link before relying on a figure. Only your monetary determination letter states your own weekly benefit amount and the number of weeks you can actually be paid.

SNAP Benefits in South Carolina

South Carolina uses Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE), with a gross income limit of 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. The maximum monthly SNAP benefit for a household of 4 in South Carolina is $975. You can apply online at https://dss.sc.gov/ or by calling 211.

Medicaid in South Carolina

South Carolina has not expanded Medicaid (State Medicaid). This state has not expanded Medicaid Apply at https://scdhhs.gov/.

South Carolina Wage Information

The minimum wage in South Carolina is $7.25/hour ($2.13/hour for tipped workers). The median household income is $64,115. South Carolina has a state income tax with a top rate of 6.4%.

Tenant Rights in South Carolina

South Carolina requires landlords to give 5 days notice for nonpayment of rent before filing for eviction. The typical eviction process takes approximately 30 days. Free legal aid is available at https://sclegal.org/.

Rent in South Carolina

The median rent in South Carolina is approximately $1,119/month for a 1-bedroom and $1,450/month for a 2-bedroom apartment. South Carolina does not have rent control.

Important Notes for South Carolina Residents

The data shown above is based on publicly available information and is updated regularly. Benefit amounts, eligibility rules, and legal requirements can change. Always verify current information with your local South Carolina agencies before making important decisions. This calculator provides estimates — not guaranteed outcomes.