The South Carolina Employment Security Commission (SCESC) has begun taking claims for those individuals who are unemployed and may be eligible for two additional levels of federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC). The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of the EUC legislation allows for those who have exhausted all rights to previous emergency and/or extended benefits to possibly apply for the new EUC levels referred to as Tier Three and Tier Four. Tier Three provides 13 weeks of unemployment compensation while Tier Four offers six weeks of additional benefits.

If an individual receives a notice from the SCESC, this indicates a review of their claim, which shows that they may be eligible to receive benefits under this new program.

Unemployed South Carolina residents who receive these notices from the Employment Security Commission should take them to their nearest workforce centers to file immediately for the Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits.

For the convenience of claimants, the working hours of SCESC workforce centers have been extended from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, through Dec. 16 – 17, 2009 and on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Out-of-state residents should contact the Interstate Unit at

1-800-529-8339 or 1- 866-397-2752 to file for these benefits.