Fraudulent Claims

It is your responsibility to report any conditions which will affect your claim and rights to benefits. Any and all employment performed and gross wages earned during a claim period must be reported when a claim is filed.

A false statement or knowing failure to disclose a fact in order to obtain or increase benefits is punishable by law.

Whoever makes a false statement or representation knowing it to be false or knowingly fails to disclose a fact to obtain or increase benefits or other payment under the Act, either for himself or for any other person shall be punished by a fine of not less than $20.00, nor more than $100.00 or by imprisonment for not longer than thirty days, and each such false statement or representation or failure to disclose a fact shall constitute a separate offense.

Any claimant found, by the Commission, to have knowingly made a false statement or who knowingly failed to disclose a fact when filing a compensable claim to establish his right to or increase the amount of his unemployment insurance benefits, shall be ineligible to receive any further benefits for a "period of not less than ten (10) nor more than fifty-two (52) weeks."

You must report all gross wages earned during the period for which you are filing a claim, even if you have not been paid. You can be prosecuted and disqualified for not reporting your gross wages on your claim. Gross wages means the total amount you were paid before any deductions were made. You should keep a record of your employment and earnings.

The South Carolina Employment Security Commission checks all wages reported by employers against benefits paid to claimants. If an overpayment is established, you will be required to repay all benefits you have been overpaid. The Commission may attempt collection of overpayments through the South Carolina Department of Revenue by withholding the amount of the overpayment from your tax refund if not repaid. A collection fee of ten dollars is added for each attempt if this method is used.