Help from DSS - Department of Social Services in Horry County
Horry County is served by the South Carolina Department of Social Services (South Carolina DSS), with applications provided to a wide range of government assistance programs. In addition to the main Conway office, Horry County DSS has additional in-county offices in Loris, Myrtle Beach, and the South Strand area. Find how to get help and programs available from DSS in Horry County.
The multiple offices in Horry County make a difference. It matters for families who are working, have limited transportation. It also helps seniors and retirees in the area, who may have limited mobility. The DSS can also help people that need to turn in time-sensitive verification documents, because it increases the chance that someone can handle a case requirement in person without losing wages or arranging a long trip across the county. The Horry County DSS serves as a short term safety net.
Cash and food benefits from DSS in Horry County
The most common financial support programs handled through DSS are SNAP and TANF. They are both temporary in nature but can help people meet basic needs.
TANF is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which provides cash assistance for eligible families with children including single moms or dads in Horry County. These government funds can be used for a variety of bills. This is known as Family Independence in SC, and there may be money issued that can pay for housing (such as rent or a security deposit), clothes, medical needs (including medications), food and much more. The DSS workers can also help people find and get rental or deposit assistance in Horry County - which can be combined with TANF.
- This is a time limited program and requires participants to enroll into job placement and various self-sufficiency resources. TANF is designed for eligible families with dependent children who need short-term cash support while stabilizing income.
SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food assistance). The goal is to help very-low income households get help paying for groceries, with most of the benefits loaded onto an EBT card. There are some restrictions to SNAP benefits, as set by the federal government. The program won’t pay for prepared meals, however the EBT card can be used to pay for vegetables, fruits and meats. There may also be other public benefits available for buying food, and this can include WIC, Summer Food Service and similar government benefits.
Child care subsidies, which in effect is a form of financial help, are sometimes available in the state of South Carolina as well as county of Horry. Parents with a low income, that are either working or in job training, can apply for these. Child care costs are another reason families in Horry County fall behind on bills, especially for parents working hourly jobs. DSS ties directly into child care affordability through the Child Care Scholarship Program - learn more on how to get help with daycare in SC.
Some households also need child support services, whether to open a case, manage payments, or obtain case information. South Carolina DSS maintains a child support program that also covers Horry County. The Child Support Call Center number (800) 768-5858 and links into the portal. For families balancing housing and utility bills, consistent support payments can be a major stabilizer.
There is also help for refugees in Horry County too. The Department of DSS will often have referrals to this state service known as Refugee Resettlement, however the allotments of money available for low income families can change. The goal is to help approved refugees, such as someone fleeing persecution, get settled.
Contact and how to apply
For people who want to apply for public assistance without traveling, South Carolina DSS maintains a statewide online services hub that includes the SNAP and TANF eligibility check, the benefits inquiry tool, and the online application link. This is relevant in Horry County because the county’s multi-office structure helps with in-person access, but the online tools help reduce the number of trips needed for routine actions such as checking issuance information or confirming whether benefits have been loaded. https://dss.sc.gov/online-services/.
The other main phone numbers for the local offices includes Conway at (843) 366-1600, Loris phone (843) 756-3256, Myrtle Beach dial (843) 915-4710, and South Strand at (843) 915-8951.
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