COLOMBIA, SC (WCSC) – The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce said the number of new complaints it received last week more than doubled compared to the previous week.
The agency reported 9,328 initial jobless claims in the week ending Saturday. SCDEW reported 4,551 initial complaints during the previous week, which ended on December 26.
Anderson County had the most new claims last week, with 2,351 in that county alone.
Greenville County, which usually leads the state in the number of new weekly complaints, came in second, with 590. Spartanburg County reported 586 and Richland County registered 550.
Horry County reported 466 initial complaints.
The state paid $ 18.7 million in a combination of state and federal benefits.
Since mid-March, the payment has totaled $ 4.8 billion.
This week, the state began paying the $ 300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefit to eligible applicants.
Department spokeswoman Heather Biance said those entitled to at least a dollar from an unemployment program will also receive an additional $ 300 in addition to the weekly benefit amount.
That extra benefit will continue during the week ending March 13, she said.
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