South Carolina Unemployment Money Given to Unqualified Applicants

South Carolina Department of Commerce data shows that not all unemployed workers receiving benefits qualify to receive unemployment to begin with.

Data presented recently by the South Carolina Department of Commerce indicates that a significant number of people filing and receiving unemployment benefits in the state do not actually qualify to receive those benefits. Last week Rebecca Gunnlaugsson, an economist with the South Carolina Department of Commerce, said that 22.8 percent of people filing for unemployment in the state of South Carolina were terminated from their jobs due to misconduct. Another 10.1 percent had quit or resigned from their positions voluntarily. Additional statistics presented by Gunnlaugsson show that 56 percent of these unqualified applicants not only applied, but succeeded in obtaining state unemployment money. Although specific statistics regarding the offenses has not been made public, most of the misconduct offenses seem to have involved illicit drug use and theft. According to state law, individuals who are terminated because they fail a drug test are automatically disqualified from receiving unemployment assistance. Individuals can file an appeal with the state to overthrow this disqualification; however, a reduction in benefits is usually incurred. This revelation comes at a time when South Carolina has an unemployment rate of 11.5 percent, ranking it at number 5 among states in the number of unemployed workers. Additionally, the trust fund used to payout benefits to unemployed workers is currently in a deficit and lawmakers are scrambling to determine how to make additional funds available to sustain the growing ranks of the state’s unemployed. Given the fact that South Carolina is one of 22 states that has received federal funds due to the high unemployment rate, there is obvious concern over the possible inappropriate issuing of funds to unqualified individuals. Senator John Scott, D-Columbia has asked for more information regarding the data.