Answering your unemployment benefit questions

By: Michelle Carolla | SCNOW
Published: March 12, 2009

It goes without saying that waiting in line and then waiting weeks for your unemployment benefits is frustrating, especially when you need the money to live.

There's not much you can do about the application process, but you can help expedite it.

First of all, you must file for benefits online through the South Carolina Employment Securities website http://www.sces.org Filing on line though, can help you cut out waiting in the long lines. If you don't own a computer you can use the library computers. or the computers at the workforce centers. It's critical that you come prepared and that you're completely honest with your answers. If you provide incorrect information or withhold information, your benefits will be delayed.

"They need to know the employers they've worked for, the dates that they worked for those employers, beginning and ending dates, I mean that's the month, date and year,” said Doris Buffkin with the Employment Securities Commission. “Those are very important in deciding who the charged employer's going to be with the claim."

Don't just rely on online applications and the openings available through the workforce centers. Currently, there are a little more than 300 open jobs in Horry County and thousands of people wanting those jobs. Spend time going to potential employers in-person.

If you have questions about unemployment benefits, the quickest way to get an answer is emailing the centers directly. Your question should be answered before the close of business.

Thursday, you can ask the Employment Securities Commission questions about unemployment benefits directly, online, during our weekly "Ask An Expert" chat on scnow.com.

You can find that chat under the keywords: Ask An Expert.