The State Extended Benefits program for unemployment compensation has been amended by the South Carolina State legislature and the governor has signed the amendment into law.

According to South Carolina Employment Security Commission (SCESC) officials, this amendment will provide for additional weeks of Unemployment Insurance Extended Benefits (EB) to eligible individuals and extends the state eligibility period for EB payments past the previous Oct. 17, 2009, ending date.

According to the amendment, if the unemployed have exhausted their original Extended Benefits, he or she may be entitled to receive up to seven weeks of additional EB payments. Those potentially eligible for these additional benefits will be notified by regular mail with instructions on how and when to reopen their EB claims. If an unemployed individual have exhausted all other regular and EUC benefits and has not applied for the EB benefits, he or she may be eligible for up to twenty weeks of additional benefits. They should report to their nearest SCESC Workforce Center to have his or her eligibility determined. Current EB claimants whose benefits were stopped as of Oct. 17, 2009, should resume filing claims in their usual manner beginning Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. Each of the Employment Security Commission’s 36 Workforce Centers will be open Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. to begin processing claims. All Workforce Centers will extend their hours of operation to 7 pm, Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 2-4, to accommodate claimants. For those who are currently employed, the SCESC stresses that they do not quit their job in an attempt to collect EB compensation. They are to contact their local South Carolina Employment Security Commission (SCESC) Workforce Center, to determine their status and receive further instructions. For more information contact the SCESC Communications Department at 803-737-2702.