Approximately 8,000 unemployment benefits claimants were expected to show up to Workforce Center centers around the state during special office hours held Saturday to deal with those who needed to begin filing for benefits again. President Obama signed the unemployment extension bill the end of last week.
South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce spokesman Clark Newsom says the financial impact from all those benefits being paid out will be considerable–about $24 million to go to businesses, money that was not there before. “There are 40,000 people affected by the new benefits,” he says, “and this will have an impact.”
Newsom says many checks will be mailed out Monday. If claimants have been filing for benefits throughout their unemployment, they will receive checks soon, within five days. But it will take longer, up to four weeks, if they haven’t been filing. He says those claimants who sign up to receive their benefits on a debit card instead of a check will receive benefits sooner.
