To report known or suspected abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult, call:
24-HR Abuse & Neglect Reporting Hotline:
1-888-CARE4US or 1-888-227-3487
Click Here To Report Abuse/Neglect Online
County Office Locations
DSS State Office
Street Address
South Carolina Department of Social Services
1535 Confederate Avenue
Columbia, SC 29201-1915
Mailing Address
South Carolina Department of Social Services
P.O. Box 1520
Columbia, SC 29202-1520
Telephone Numbers
| SNAP/TANF Client Services | (800) 616-1309 - DSS Connect Call Center |
| Child Support Services | (800) 768-5858 - Child Support Call Center |
| General Information/Constituent Services (Constituent Services does not have access to SNAP/TANF or Child Support Case information.) | (803) 898-7601 or |
| Office of the State Director | (803) 898-7360 |
| Office of General Counsel | (803) 898-7368 |
| Media Inquiries | (803) 898-7602 |
| Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) | (803) 898-8080 |
Central Registry for Abuse and Neglect | (803) 898-7318, Press Option "4" Or email: |
| Out-of-State Records Requests | |
DSS Careers DSS Employment Verification | //www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sc/ (Email to verify active employment with DSS.) |
| SC State Employment | //careers.sc.gov/ |
| Foster Parent Liaison | (803) 898-4174 |
Emergency Hotlines & Toll Free Numbers
Abuse & Neglect Statewide Reporting Hotline -and- Out of Home Abuse and Neglect Reporting (OHAN) For reports of suspected child abuse and/or neglect that occurs in foster care placements or at child care facilities. | 1-888-CARE4US |
| Financial Fraud (Vendor/Retailer/DSS Employee) Press 2 for assistance | (800) 694-8518 |
| Adoption & Birth Parent Services | (800) 922-2504 |
| Children’s Helpline (For reporting by children in foster care.) | (800) 645-9789 |
| Child Abuse Hotline (National) | (800) 422-4453 |
| Child Support Services | (800) 768-5858 |
| DAODAS | (803) 896-5555 |
| SC Emergency Management Division | (803) 737-8500 |
| Careline (Prenatal Care Information) (855-4-SCDHEC) | (855) 472-3432 |
| Individual & Provider Rights / HIPAA | (800) 311-7220 |
| Medicaid | (888) 549-0820 |
| Palmetto AIDS Life Support Service (PALSS) | (803) 779-7257 |
| National Parent Hotline | (855) 427-2736 |
| National Domestic Violence Hotline Local Domestic Violence Shelters and Organizations | 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) |
| Social Security Administration | (800) 772-1213 |
| Women, Infants & Children (855-4-SCDHEC) | (855) 472-3432 |
Report A SNAP/TANF Change
SC Voucher Benefit Portal
Announcing a new and convenient way for families to apply for child care assistance, upload documents, track application status and more!
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2022 Summer Pandemic EBT
South Carolina obtained approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service to issue 2022 Summer Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits to eligible K-12 students. Summer K-12 P-EBT benefits will be issued on new P-EBT cards and should be delivered to eligible students on or before September 16, 2022 by regular mail.
Parents may use the P-EBT search portal to check the status of previously approved benefits.
Find more information in the 2022 Summer K-12 Pandemic EBT Frequently Asked Questions document.
Celebrating our work with South Carolina’s child care providers impacting children and families for 30 years!
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SNAP Emergency Allotments to continue beginning August 1, 2021
The federally-approved Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotments (supplements) to all South Carolina SNAP households will continue effective August 1, 2021.
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Online Central Registry and Database System
SCDSS announces the state’s new Online Central Registry and Database System for conducting SC Child Abuse and Neglect Registry background checks.
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Child Support
Good news! The Child Support Customer Service Portal gives parents a secure way to apply for child support and access important case information – any time, any day!
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Child Welfare Services Transformation
Best Outcomes for Children and Families
Do you have a complaint regarding services being provided to a child by a state agency? Please submit your complaint by phone (1-800-206-1957) or an electronic submission form here with the South Carolina Department of Children's Advocacy.