Thursday, Governor Mark Sanford signed Senate bill 374, which extends benefits to the unemployed under the stimulus act.
The bill passed Wednesday with unanimous, bipartisan support. The State Employment Security Commission says the 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 October 17, 2009, ending date.
The ESC says if you are unemployed and have exhausted your original Extended Benefits, you 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 EB claims.
If you have exhausted all other regular and EUC benefits and have not applied for the EB benefits, you may be eligible for up to twenty weeks of additional benefits. You should report to your nearest SCESC Workforce Center to have your eligibility determined.
Current EB claimants whose benefits were stopped as of October 17, 2009, should resume filing claims in their usual manner beginning Friday, October 30, 2009.
Each of the Employment Security Commission's 36 Workforce Centers will be open Saturday, October 31, 2009 from 8:00am-12:00pm to begin processing claims. All Workforce Centers will extend their hours of operation to 7:00pm, Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 2-4, to accommodate claimants.
If you are currently employed, do not quit your job in an attempt to collect EB compensation. You should contact your local SCESC Workforce Center to determine your status and receive further instructions.
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