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WINNSBORO — People receiving unemployment in Winnsboro will notice a few changes starting Feb. 19. On that date the Department of Employment and Workforce is reorganizing its unemployment insurance division. The staff who were helping offer that service in Winnsboro will instead be stationed at the Columbia office at 700 Taylor St., Columbia.

In Winnsboro, the SCWORKS offices on Congress Street will remain open and fully staffed, and there will be WIA staff in the same building to offer assistance under the umbrella of the State Workforce Development Board.

Kevin Hill, regional operations manager for the SC Works Centers, said this was a statewide DEW decision to pull staff from the SC WORKS office, not a local choice. DSS, WIA and SC Vocational Rehabilitation still will be in the Winnsboro offices to offer services to job seekers.

Fewer federal funds are available for DEW, which is one reason the state is streamlining this unemployment insurance process. According to SC DEW Director of Information Services Andrienne Fairwell unemployment insurance claimants can use free DEW online services throughtheMy Benefits web portal at mybenefits.dew.sc.gov.

Fairwell noted the online method is faster and easier than an in-person claim, which is another reason for the changes.

“DEW is seizing upon this opportunity to improve the way we do business,” said Executive Director Abraham J. Turner. “As we increasingly promote our self-service Unemployment Insurance (UI) services available online and by phone, we will ultimately increase our agency’s overall efficiency. We remain deeply committed to reemployment efforts, excellent customer service and businesses throughout South Carolina.”

• File initial and weekly unemployment claims

• Change contact information

• Change tax withholding information

• Retrieve 1099 information

• Check benefits status

• Change payment method

Claimants can also file weekly claims by phone through DEW’s TelClaim system at 1.866.831.1724.

Affected claimants who require in-person assistance will be directed to the Columbia office at 700 Taylor St. For more information, contact 803-727-5627 midlands-UIER-responses-DL@dew.sc.gov.