CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
South Carolina Employment Security Commission officials advise military spouses to be aware of current law regarding South Carolina Unemployment Insurance Compensation for military spouses passed in June 2007.
"This is important for military members and their spouses because frequent moves required of military families add unique financial pressures as spouses routinely lose income during such moves," said Kevin Wicks, South Carolina Employment Security Commission program coordinator.
It allows payment of Unemployment Insurance Compensation to spouses who separate from their employment due to the permanent transfer of a military spouse from one military assignment to another, provided that separation takes place within 15 days of the scheduled relocation date. The scheduled relocation date is the date the military member has to report to the new duty station, according to South Carolina Security Commission officials
This law does not apply to spouses relocating from all states to South Carolina. Military spouses relocating to South Carolina from other states will have to file under the previous state's laws. However, all military spouses have this benefit if they are returning from overseas, service-connected employment and worked up to the last day possible before relocating. The federal agency the spouse was employed by would be charged for the compensation, according to South Carolina Employment Security Commission officials.
Individuals filing a claim for benefits must provide the date they last worked or were allowed to work. A copy of the permanent change of station orders must be provided as evidence of the military relocation.
"It is important that spouses remember when it comes to unemployment insurance compensation they should always go to their local, state unemployment office for information prior to terminating employment," said Linda Lankosz, 437th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness community readiness consultant. "The spouse can't file the claim until he or she is out of work."
For more information, contact the 437 FSS Airman & Family Readiness Center at 963-4406.