South Carolina Unemployment Calculator
Figure basis: Official U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment InsuranceThis calculator estimates your South Carolina unemployment insurance (UI) weekly benefit for 2026. Enter your usual gross weekly pay to see an estimated weekly benefit, alongside the official South Carolina minimum ($42) and maximum ($350) weekly benefit amounts and the 13 to 20 weeks of benefits payable. The weekly amount is an estimate: it uses about 50% wage replacement (which matches the common "one twenty-sixth of high-quarter wages" rule) and is capped at the state minimum and maximum. Your state agency sets the exact figure from your base-period wage history, and eligibility rules apply. The minimum, maximum, and number of weeks are the official 2026 figures, sourced from U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance.
In South Carolina, the weekly unemployment benefit ranges from $42 to $350, payable for 13 to 20 weeks (up to $7,000 in total). On $1,000 a week, the estimated benefit is about $350.00 per week.
How South Carolina unemployment benefits work
South Carolina pays a weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on your earnings during the base period (usually the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters). The WBA is subject to a state minimum of $42 and a maximum of $350, and is payable for 13 to 20 weeks.
estimated weekly benefit = min(max(weekly wage x 50%, $42), $350)
estimated maximum total = estimated weekly benefit x 20 weeks
The 50% figure is an approximation of the common state formula; your state agency sets the exact WBA from your wage records.
South Carolina unemployment figures (2026)
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum weekly benefit | $42 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $350 | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
| Weeks payable | 13 to 20 weeks | U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance |
South Carolina pays one of the nation's lowest maximums, for a capped number of weeks
South Carolina sits near the bottom of the national table on both dials that matter. The maximum weekly benefit is $350, well below most states, and the minimum is $42. The state has held a comparatively low ceiling for years, so even a high earner who qualifies for the maximum replaces only a small share of a typical salary. If your usual pay is well above roughly $700 a week, expect the $350 cap to bind and the 50% estimate on this page to overstate your actual check.
Duration is capped tightly too. Since a 2011 change, South Carolina no longer offers a flat 26 weeks; instead it pays from 13 up to 20 weeks on a sliding scale tied to the statewide unemployment rate. When the labor market is strong, the maximum number of weeks falls toward the bottom of that range, so the total benefit you can collect shrinks in good times, exactly when a layoff is hardest to predict.
The common mistake is budgeting on 26 weeks and a half-pay replacement rate, both of which South Carolina undercuts. Your weekly amount comes from your base-period wages and is floored at $42 and capped at $350, and the estimated total here uses 20 weeks, the top of the range, so treat it as a ceiling rather than a promise. Confirm the current maximum weeks with the South Carolina agency before you file.
South Carolina unemployment: frequently asked questions
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in South Carolina for 2026?
The maximum weekly benefit amount in South Carolina is $350 for 2026. The minimum is $42. Over the maximum 20 weeks, that is up to $7,000 in total benefits.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in South Carolina?
South Carolina pays benefits for 13 to 20 weeks; the exact number depends on your base-period wages and, in some states, the state unemployment rate.
How much unemployment will I get in South Carolina?
Your weekly benefit is roughly half your usual gross weekly pay, subject to the South Carolina minimum of $42 and maximum of $350. For example, on $1,000 a week the estimate is about $350.00. This is an estimate; South Carolina sets your exact amount from your base-period wage history.
Is this the exact unemployment amount I will receive?
No. The minimum, maximum, and weeks shown are the official 2026 figures, but the weekly amount here is an estimate (about 50% wage replacement, which matches the common "one twenty-sixth of high-quarter wages" rule). Your state agency computes the exact figure from your reported wages, and eligibility rules apply.
Official sources
- South Carolina unemployment weekly benefit and duration (tax year 2026): U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Unemployment Insurance, as at Jul 15, 2026.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 15 July 2026. See our methodology. General information, not legal or financial advice; file your claim with your state agency.