Section 41-31-20 - Employers' accounts(A) The department shall maintain a separate account for each employer and shall accurately record the data used to determine an employer's experience for the purpose of rate assignments. Nothing in Chapters 27 through 41 of this title shall be construed to grant any employer or individual in his service prior claims or rights to the amounts paid by him into the fund either on his behalf or on behalf of such individuals. Benefits paid to an eligible individual shall be charged, in the amounts provided in Chapters 27 through 41 of this title, against the accounts of his most recent employer. No employer shall be deemed as the most recent employer for the purpose of this section unless the eligible person to whom benefits are paid earned wages in the employ of the employer equal to at least eight times the weekly benefit amount of the eligible claimant.(B) Any two or more qualified employers in the same or a related trade, occupation, profession, or enterprise, or having a common financial interest may apply to the department to establish a joint account or to merge their several individual accounts in a joint account. The department shall promulgate regulations for the establishment, maintenance, and dissolution of joint accounts. A joint account shall be maintained as if it constituted a single employer's account.(C) The department shall promulgate regulations concerning the manner in which benefits shall be charged against the accounts of several employers for whom an individual performed employment at the same time. However, in the event benefits paid to an individual are based on wages paid by one or more employers who were liable for payments in lieu of contributions and on wages paid by one or more employers who were liable for payment of contributions, the amount in benefits charged to the account of the most recent employer shall not exceed the amount of benefits which would have been paid solely by reason of the base period wages paid by employers who were liable for payment of contributions.(D) Nothing in this article shall be construed to limit benefits payable pursuant to Chapter 35 of this title.Amended by 2011 S.C. Acts, Act No. 63 (HB 3762), s 2, eff. 6/14/2011.Amended by 2010 S.C. Acts, Act No. 234 (SB 391), s 1, eff. 1/1/2011.1971 (57) 950, 993; 1950 (46) 2014; 1949 (46) 582; 1941 (42) 369; 1939 (41) 487; 1936 (39) 1716; 1942 Code Section 7035-87; 1952 Code Section 68-172; 1962 Code Section 68-172.