State officials promise some unemployment payments from federal relief will be made by the end of this week.

The SC Department of Employment and Workforce said it has been waiting on guidance about issuing additional funds from the US Department of Labor.

DEW officials said they have received that information and set a timetable for the distribution of 3 categories of benefits.

The first payments are expected to come from Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation funds. That will provide an additional $600 per week to eligible claimants.

The emergency program was established by the $2.2 trillion corona virus emergency stimulus package. It will provide extra federal benefits through July 31.

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program covers freelancers, independent contractors and gig economy workers who were not previously eligible for unemployment benefits.

DEW said it expects to be able to accept PUA claims by April 25.

The 3rd type of payment, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, provides up to 13 weeks of benefits to those who have exhausted their standard 20-week state unemployment insurance benefits. DEW said it anticipates being able to accept and process PEUC claims “in the coming weeks.”

DEW paid $18,498,410 in unemployment claims to South Carolinians from March 15 to April 4.

More on pages A2 & 3.