FAQs

SC Stay Plus (COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance) Frequently Asked Questions:

Last Updated: May 10, 2023

Program Closing FAQs Program Overview and Eligibility FAQs Landlord FAQs

Program Closing FAQs

1. I applied, but the program is closed, what does this mean for me?

The program has been reviewing and approving applications submitted before the December 16, 2022 deadline, in the order received. Because all program funds have been used, and no additional funds have been received from the US Treasury, applications are no longer being reviewed or approved. SC Stay Plus has requested additional funds from the US Treasury. If more funds are received, we will continue to review submitted applications in the order received. Applicants will be emailed or called with any updates to their application.

2. I joined the expression of interest waitlist, but now the program is closed, what does this mean for me?

At this time, no one from the waitlist will be invited to apply to the SC Stay Plus program, as no new SC Stay Plus applications are being accepted. If SC Stay Plus receives more funds and the applications received prior to the deadline are fully reviewed, households on the wait list will be contacted.

3. I need immediate assistance.

If you have received an eviction notice or are concerned that you are about to be evicted, you can find a real estate attorney on the SC Bar website or reach out to SC Legal Services, by visiting their website or by calling 888-346-5592. Facing a housing crisis can be emotionally challenging for you and your family. SC Hopes is a free program to provide emotional support to guide you and your family to community resources, through May 31, 2023. You can either visit their website or call 844-724-6737. Additional support can be found by either calling 211 or navigating the SC 211 website. There you will find a host of social service options, include options around utility cut offs.

4. Why is the SC Stay Plus program ending?

Since May 2021, SC Stay Plus has provided rent and utility assistance to more than 90,000 South Carolinians with more than $267 million in rental and utility assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds were provided to the state by the U.S. Department of Treasury through an emergency program designed to provide relief to those experiencing COVID-related financial hardships. Due to the program’s success, SC Stay Plus is winding down in South Carolina, and we will stop taking new applications on December 16 at 11:59 PM EST.

5. If I applied before December 16, will my application be reviewed?

Applications submitted before that December 16 deadline will continue to be reviewed until program funds are exhausted. Applying before this deadline does not guarantee payment. Applicants are still responsible for the timely submission of required documents. We encourage applicants to upload the required documents as soon an initial application is submitted.

6. What if I need assistance after the December 16 deadline?

Those who live in the 39 counties served by SC Stay Plus and who need rental assistance after the December 16 deadline may sign up for a waitlist at the SC Stay Plus website starting December 17, 2022. While the waitlist link is available, interested parties may complete an Expression of Interest Form, which adds them to the waitlist. (See questions below pertaining to the waitlist).

7. Is SC Stay Plus available to residents in all 46 counties in South Carolina?

No. Residents in Anderson, Berkeley, Charleston, Greenville, Horry, Richland, and Spartanburg click here for more information about those programs

8. How long will it take to be processed?

Given the high volume of application submissions expected in advance of this deadline, please allow time to process an application. The amount of time it takes to review and process an application varies based on the circumstances of each application. We encourage applicants to submit complete applications, with relevant documents uploaded, and to be responsive to our team’s outreach to ensure those applications are processed as efficiently as possible. To upload documents, please go here. To check your application status, please check here.

9. What if I submitted an application by December 16, 2022, but I have not uploaded all the documents needed?

Applications received by December 16 will be reviewed, as long as there are still funds available. We strongly encourage applicants to upload documents as soon as they have filled out the application, and prior to the application being initially reviewed. If an application is missing documents upon review, the applicant will be contacted with a request to fill in the missing information. If the applicant complies with this request within the time outlined, the application will continue to be processed. Documents may be uploaded to complete an application after December 16, but individuals will not be able to open a new application or applications to receive additional funds (“recertifcations”).

10. If my application is submitted by December 16, and then denied, am I still able to appeal?

Yes. If an applicant is determined to be ineligible, they will be notified in writing with a detailed reason for the denial. Applicants may appeal within 10 days from the date of the denial email. If the applicant misses this appeal deadline, they are unable to request an appeal, and cannot reapply.

11. How do I know the status of my application?

You can check your applications status here. If you have questions about the meaning of your application status, please refer here.

12. Am I able to recertify for additional funds once the application closes?

No. Applications for additional funds (“recertifications”) will also close at 11:59 pm, December 16, 2022.

13. If I have not applied by December 16, 2022, and I need rental assistance, what are my options?

Should funds remain or should funds become available after all prior applications are reviewed, SC Stay Plus will notify waitlisted parties on a first-come, first-served basis, inviting them to complete an application. Please note that joining the waitlist does not guarantee an opportunity to apply or be provided with financial assistance. SC Stay Plus is creating this waitlist in the event additional funds remain after all applications submitted by December 16 are reviewed, or if additional federal funds become available.

If you are currently experiencing homelessness, or need emergency assistance, please call 211.

14. Is the waitlist just for new applicants?

No, the waitlist is for any program eligible applicant seeking support through the SC Stay Plus program.

15. What information is needed join the waitlist?

To join the waitlist, the individual should have the following information ready to input:

General information (Name, address, phone number, etc.)
Type of assistance needed (rental or utility), months behind on payment and approximate amount of funds owed
Amount of previous assistance received (if applicable)

16. How do you know if you successfully joined the waitlist?

Once you join the waitlist, you will receive an email with a confirmation number. You can join the waitlist HERE, by calling our call center at (803)336-3420 Mon-Friday 8am-9pm EST.

17. How will I know if I am taken off the waitlist and can apply?

SC Stay Plus will notify you if you become eligible to apply for the program. Please continue to monitor your phone and email information given to the waitlist.

Program Overview and Eligibility FAQs

1. What is SC Stay Plus?

SC Stay Plus has been created to assist South Carolina households that are unable to pay rent and utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides payments directly to landlords and utility companies on behalf of affected renters. These funds are made available to South Carolinians under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and South Carolina Act 17 of 2021.

2. Who is eligible for SC Stay Plus?

To be eligible for SC Stay Plus, a household (defined as a renter household in which one or more individuals qualifies to pay rent on a residential dwelling) must meet several criteria:

The total household income is at or below 80% of the Area Median Income as defined by the Federal Government, AND
The household must be obligated to pay rent on a residential dwelling, AND
One or more members of the household can demonstrate risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, AND

One or more members of the household must meet one (1) of the following:

Has qualified for unemployment benefits, or
Experienced a reduction in household income, or
Incurred significant costs, or
Experienced other financial hardship due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

SC Stay Plus will not cover rent or utility expenses that have already been covered by other federally funded rental assistance. SC Stay Plus is for renters only; the program will not cover any mortgage expenses or utility expenses for homeowners.

SC Stay Plus will not cover rent or utilities for renters living in Anderson, Berkeley, Charleston, Greenville, Horry, Richland, or Spartanburg counties unless there are additional funds remaining after obligating funds to all other eligible residents in the state. Renters in those counties are encouraged to contact their county offices for more information on programs in their area.

3. What does SC Stay Plus provide?

SC Stay Plus will pay up to twelve (12) months of back rent (also known as arrearages), to the extent that funds are available. Rent arrears through March 13, 2020 will be paid first, with up to three (3) months of future rental assistance available if the renter is at risk of experiencing homelessness.

SC Stay Plus additionally covers:

Rental or utility security deposits, moving expenses, rental fees, and/or application or screening fees if a household has been temporarily or permanently displaced due to COVID-19.

The program can also cover reasonable accrued late fees, if not already incurred as part of rental or utility arrears and if incurred due to COVID-19.

4. Will I receive the money? How is that money disbursed?

Landlords and renters will both contribute to the application, but landlords and utility companies will be paid directly by the state of South Carolina. Payment will occur by ACH (direct deposit) or by mailed check payable to the landlord or the landlord’s designee. In the event a landlord decides not to participate or cannot be reached by the program, the program can pay the tenant directly when certain criteria are met.

5. What documentation is required from renters?

Renters are required to submit documentation as part of the SC Stay Plus application process. These documents include ID, proof of your current housing situation (e.g., lease), proof of back rent to a landlord and/or utilities owed (e.g., arrears / ledger), and proof of income. Click HERE for an overview.

Please keep reading for additional details.

Renters are required to provide the following information to verify eligibility:

Personal identification (Pick one):

Acceptable identification must include the family member’s name and date of birth. Examples of acceptable identification include a driver’s license, state ID card, birth certificate, passport, military ID, student ID, Medicaid or other healthcare coverage card, voter registration card, or other South Carolina-issued identification. Identification must be valid up to March 13, 2020 (i.e., identification forms that have expired after March 13, 2020, are still acceptable).

Proof of having a lease (Pick one):

Current lease (dated and signed by both parties)
Expired lease (i.e., month-to-month agreement)
Tenancy agreement
Landlord certification form (click here)

Note: If you do not have a formal, signed lease, you can still apply for SC Stay Plus. Instead of a lease, you must provide evidence that you are regularly making rental payments, such as bank statements, check stubs, or a screenshot from a payment application (e.g., Zelle, Venmo)

Proof of risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability:

Unemployment status, reduction in household income, significant costs, or financial hardship are no longer required. Applicants simply “self-attest” to these items as part of the standard application process.

Proof of income (Provide at least one):

Tax return (first two pages) and Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) data for the application
Proof of wages dated within the last sixty (60) days, demonstrating a full months’ worth of consecutive pay
Social Security Administration (SSA) benefit letter and/or pension or other retirement benefits information dated since January 1, 2020, Unemployment benefits letter dated since January 1, 2020
Child or spousal support payment report or other pay statement dated since January 1, 2020, and including copy of the child or spousal support order
Letter dated since January 1, 2020, confirming child support payments made outside of DSS

Note: applicants must provide all income sources for all household members at or over the age of 18

Proof of arrears (if applicable):

Many applicants are required to provide proof of arrears (e.g., a ledger – a document that shows rent owed for which months). If an applicant does not have a ledger, they will be asked to complete a landlord-tenant certification form to provide this information.

Ledger
Landlord certification form (click here)
Past-due utility bills

6. What if I have already moved or have been evicted?

This program is meant for your current residence, so we are unable to approve rent or utilities owed to apartments you no longer live in. If you have recently been evicted, we can help you! We are able to support you with temporary housing expenses (e.g., hotels/motels), moving expenses, storage expenses, security deposits, legal fees, and up to three months of future rent as you move into a new apartment. If you are transitioning between apartments or temporarily experiencing homelessness, please continue to apply to SC Stay Plus and ensure you save any receipts, hotel folios, and other documents, as you will need to provide them for us to reimburse you. Our call center is available to help answer any questions you may have.

7. What about back rent from before March of 2020?

SC Stay Plus will only cover back rent (arrearages) of up to 12 months, or back to March 13, 2020. Rent arrears from before March 13, 2020, will not be paid.

8. What types of leases are eligible for SC Stay Plus? Do renters have to have a lease?

All lease types, including month-to-month, subleases, informal or verbal leases, or other leases are eligible for rental assistance. If you do not have a written lease agreement, you must provide documentation showing that you had been making monthly lease payments prior to experiencing the financial hardship, like a bank statement, check stub, Venmo or Zell statement, etc.

9. If I receive SC Stay Plus funding can I still be evicted?

By depositing SC Stay Plus funds, the landlord:

May not pursue eviction based on rent amounts reimbursed by these funds and agree to dismiss any pending eviction case that is based on or seeks to recover the reimbursed arrears.
May bring an eviction case in the future if Applicant fails to pay future rent due after the funds of this award has been exhausted or if the award amounts does not cover all amounts due.

You can still be evicted for other reasons: if you owe back rent from before March 13, 2020 (i.e., before COVID-19), if you fail to pay rent in the future, if you violate other lease terms (as specified by your lease), or for other reasons allowed by law.

10. Can my future rent be covered by SC Stay Plus?

Yes. Up to three (3) months of prospective rent is provided to applicants as part of their benefit award.

11. Will the assistance provided be required to be repaid by the renter or homeowner?

No, the assistance does not need to be repaid unless it is determined that the assistance requested from the SC Stay Plus program was also provided to the applicant by another funding source or obtained fraudulently.

12. What if my landlord does not want to participate?

While landlord participation was initially required to receive funding, tenants can now be paid directly in the event their landlord fails to or decides against participating in the program.

13. I don’t have reliable access to the internet. How should I apply?

Applicants without reliable access to the internet should call the SC Stay Plus helpline at (803) 336-3420 for further support. You are still able to apply.

14. How long does it take to get paid?

Once approved, ACH payments can be paid out between 5-10 business days. On average, these direct deposits are paid out faster than physical checks .

15. What if my SC Stay Plus application gets denied?

If you applied for SC Stay Plus and were denied, you may appeal that decision at any time within ten (10) calendar days from the date of your denial email.

You may file your appeal by clicking HERE, by clicking the link in your denial email, or by calling 803-336-3420 or 1-800-476-0412.

A decision on your appeal will be made within 14 calendar days from the time the appeal is filed, and you will be notified at the email address you used to apply.

If any missing documentation or information was given as a reason for denial, you must provide that information or documentation for your appeal to be accepted.

Landlord FAQs

1. What documentation is required from landlords?

Owner must submit proof of ownership. This can be a warranty deed, homeowner insurance policy, tax bill, or other similar document.
Proof of debt owed: typically provided as a ledger. We have a form for your convenience HERE
SCEIS Vendor ID (if no vendor ID exists or it needs to be updated, please click HERE. This is typically completed by the payee authorized on the lease. *Please note that the check will be mailed to the name and address on the SCEIS registration.
If there is an agent/management company managing this property please provide us with a copy of your management agreement. This is required when the owner is not the payee listed on the lease. We have a form available for your convenience if you do not have a formal agreement HERE.

2. If I have multiple units that are eligible, am I limited to the number of renters that can apply?

Any eligible renter household may apply and there is no limit to the number of grantee renters renting from a single landlord.