South Carolina's unemployment agency is yanking benefits from thousands of people who are not searching for work through its online database.
/ MGN
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina's unemployment agency is yanking benefits from thousands of people who are not searching for work through its online database.
A new policy by the Department of Employment and Workforce requires those receiving benefits to search for at least one job weekly through the agency's Web site, as a way to verify they are looking for work as required.
Not doing so leads to a loss of benefits for that week.
Agency spokeswoman Adrienne Fairwell said the policy took effect Aug. 11. During the first week of implementation, more than 17,000 people lost their benefits. That's roughly one-third of those who would have otherwise received a check. The number losing benefits dropped to less than 9,000 last week.
The agency expects the numbers to continue to decline.
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