Are you a laid-off employee, self-employed or a contractor?

If so, you may soon begin receiving $926 a week in unemployment benefits.

This has many small business employers worried that they will not be able to get employees earning less than that to come back to work.

Between $326 in state and $600 in federal benefits a week, they will make more money on unemployment, according to SC Department of Employment and Workforce officials.

The CARES Act passed by Congress provided an extra $600 a week for those applying for unemployment through the end of July.

Before it was passed, SC unemployment ranged from $40 to $326 a week.

SC Restaurant and Lodging Association Chairman Bobby Williams, an owner of Lizards Thicket restaurants, said it’s difficult to ask employees to come back to work when it may not be the best option for them financially.

Most restaurant employees here make $9 to $12 an hour, Williams said.

The state’s US Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott wanted to give enough unemployment to match what workers were making before they were laid off. Their amendment failed.

DEW officials plan to accept applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance almost a month after the CARES Act was signed into law.

The program extends unemployment benefits to those who normally wouldn’t qualify for unemployment benefits such as 1099 contractors.

DEW encouraged those who believe they qualify for the federal assistance to apply, even before federal funds start flowing into the state’s coffers.

The agency will retroactively pay out benefits starting with the week the claimant was unemployed due to covid-19.

DEW expects to begin paying benefits within 7 to 14 days once a claim is approved.

This also covers other categories of claimants, including if you can’t work because:

• You were diagnosed with covid-19 or are experiencing symptoms and seeking a diagnosis.

• You or a member of your household have been diagnosed with covid-19.

• You are caring for a family member who has been diagnosed with covid-19.

• You are a primary caregiver for a child who cannot attend a closed school or daycare.

• You are unable to reach your place of employment because of a quarantine.

• You are unable to reach your place of employment because a health care provider has advised you to self-quarantine.

• You have become the major support for your family because the breadwinner has died as a direct result of covid-19.

• Your place of employment has closed as a direct result of covid-19.