how to file for illinois unemployment benefits

1. Check if you're eligible. Not all unemployed workers qualify for unemployment benefits in Illinois.
2. Gather required information. You must supply the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) with certain information.
3. Apply online. Online is the preferred method of applying. Visit the IDES website. You will need to create a username and password here: https://benefits.ides.illinois.gov/File4UI/Benefits/profile/createRegistrationStart.do.
4. File by phone. You may also file for unemployment benefits by calling IDES at 800-244-5631. Call between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Visit an office to file. You may also file at any IDES office. ...
Select your method of payment. You can receive your benefits by direct deposit or on a debit card. ...
Register with the employment service. Most applicants will need to register. ...
Participate in an interview, if necessary. IDES might require that you have a telephone interview. ...
Receive your UI Finding. IDES will send you this information after your claim has been filed. ...

How do you calculate unemployment benefits in Illinois?

You will receive your unemployment benefits one week after filing the claim.

• Your Social Security Number
• The year you were born in
• Your home address and telephone number
• Whether you have filed an unemployment insurance claim in your state or any other state during the past 12 months
• Your last day of employment
• The names and addresses of all the employers you have worked for during the past 15 months before you file your claim. ...

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How do you file unemployment claim in Illinois?

File by phone. You may also file for unemployment benefits by calling IDES at 800-244-5631. Call between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. [4] X Research source Hearing impaired applicants should call 866-322-8357. Visit an office to file. You may also file at any IDES office.

Where do I go to file for unemployment in Illinois?

Part 1 Part 1 of 2: Submitting Your Application Download Article

1. Check if you're eligible. Not all unemployed workers qualify for unemployment benefits in Illinois.
2. Gather required information. You must supply the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) with certain information.
3. Apply online. ...
4. File by phone. ...
5. Visit an office to file. ...
6. Select your method of payment. ...
7. Register with the employment service. ...

More items...

When should I file for unemployment benefits?

• Lost your job through no fault of your own - To qualify for unemployment benefits, you need to have been let go from a company because of a lack of ...
• Be an employee - Only company employees qualify under unemployment guidelines. ...
• Meet wage requirements - Most states have a base period used to qualify an individual for benefits. ...

How do I file an unemployment claim in Illinois?

How do I file an additional claim?Log into your IDES account, select "File My Unemployment Claim" under the "Individual Home" menu, and proceed to file an additional claim.Based on your certification answers, you may also be prompted to file an additional claim right at the end of the certification process as needed.

How do I file for pandemic unemployment in Illinois?

If you already applied for regular unemployment insurance, and weren't eligible, you can then apply for PUA online. You can also apply by calling IDES at (800) 244-5631.

What documents do I need to apply for unemployment in Illinois?

To file for unemployment insurance, you will need your Social Security number and driver's license or state ID. You'll also need your employment history for the past 18 months, including names of employers, start date(s), last day of work and number of days worked.

How do I apply for Covid 19 unemployment benefits $600?

How Do I Apply? To receive unemployment insurance benefits, you need to file a claim with the unemployment insurance program in the state where you worked. Depending on the state, claims may be filed in person, by telephone, or online.

Is pandemic unemployment still available?

The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was a social welfare payment for employees and self-employed people who lost all their employment due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The PUP scheme is closed.

Can I still apply for Pua?

PUA benefits ended September 4, 2021. The last day you could apply for a PUA claim was October 6, 2021, for weeks of unemployment before September 4. For more information about the ending of federal unemployment benefit programs, visit Federal Provisions for Unemployment.

How long does it take to get approved for unemployment in Illinois?

Within 7-10 days of filing your claim, you will receive a UI Finding letter in the mail. The UI Finding letter will tell you whether you are monetarily eligible for benefits, meaning you have earned sufficient wages in your base period.

Who qualifies for unemployment Illinois?

Who is eligible for Illinois Unemployment Insurance?Unemployed, and.Worked in Illinois during the past 12 months (this period may be longer in some cases), and.Earned a minimum amount of wages determined by Illinois guidelines, and.Actively seeking work each week you are collecting benefits.

Why can I file unemployment online in Illinois?

The state's online form to file is not "mobile-enabled," a spokesperson said. People without access to a computer should call instead. CHICAGO — A surge of Chicagoans who rushed to file for unemployment have been met with busy signals and, at times, the state's crashing website.

Is there still a stimulus for unemployment?

Federal Unemployment Benefits Have Ended Federal unemployment benefit programs under the CARES Act ended on September 4, 2021.

Do you have to pay back unemployment during Covid 19?

States tried clawing back overpayments from hundreds of thousands of people earlier in the pandemic. Labor Department officials issued initial rules in May 2021 that let states waive collection in some cases and asked states to refund any amounts already collected toward the overpayment.

Will unemployment be extended 2021?

The American Rescue Plan Act, signed March 11, 2021, extended the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program, which provides an additional $300 to workers for weeks of unemployment ending on March 11, 2021 through September 4, 2021.

How often do Illinois unemployment benefits come out?

In Illinois, the payments usually arrive on the 1st and the 15th of each month, although they may be delayed due to weekends and holidays.

How much do you need to be paid to get unemployment in Illinois?

To qualify for unemployment benefits, you’ll need to have been paid at least 1,600 dollars in wages in the last year, have been paid for at least 2 quarters, and be unemployed through no fault of your own.

How to apply for IDES benefits?

Online is the preferred method of applying. Visit the IDES website. You will need to create a username and password here: https://benefits.ides.illinois.gov/File4UI/Benefits/profile/createRegistrationStart.do. Provide all requested information.

What is it called when you certify your benefits?

Check what day you should certify. Requesting benefits is called certifying. After you apply, you'll receive a call day for certifying benefits. If you don't receive this information, then contact IDES.

How often do you have to recertify unemployment?

You can apply online, by phone, or at an office during the first week you become unemployed. Remember to recertify your eligibility for benefits every two weeks, up to a maximum of 26 weeks in a one-year period. Steps.

How long does it take to get unemployment benefits?

You can receive your benefits by direct deposit or on a debit card. If you choose direct deposit, the benefit amount will be deposited within two business days.

What does it mean when you are unemployed?

You're unemployed through no fault of your own. Typically, this means you were laid off for economic reasons. You weren't fired and you didn't quit. However, you might qualify if you quit because of sexual harassment, domestic violence, or another reason. You were paid at least $1,600 in wages in your base year.

How to determine the amount of unemployment in Illinois?

Your base period is based on the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the beginning of your benefit year. To determine the exact amount and duration of your Illinois unemployment compensation, go to the benefit table on the IDES website.

How often do you get unemployment benefits in Illinois?

Certification takes place by telephone through an Illinois unemployment number or online on a bi-weekly basis. You must certify every two weeks to receive your benefits.

What is insured work in Illinois?

Insured work is performed for an employer who is required to make payments to the state as part of the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act. While most types of work falls under this law, there are some types of work that are considered uninsured work.

What is the Illinois Department of Employment Security?

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) is the state agency that oversees the administration of Illinois unemployment benefits, provides employment services and analyzes and disseminates labor market information for Illinois residents and employers.

What happens if you are denied unemployment in Illinois?

If your appeal is denied, Illinois unemployment laws guarantee your right to appeal to the Board of Review, an independent five-person body, who will also review your case. If you are rejected at this level, your final option is to file an appeal with the Circuit Court of the county where you live.

How long does it take to appeal unemployment in Illinois?

If you file an Illinois unemployment application and are denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You must file your appeal within 30 days after you receive your letter of denial. Your appeal will be heard by an Administrative Law Judge where you will be given the opportunity to present your case.

What information is required for a W-2?

Employer information for the past 18 months, including names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, dates of employment and reasons for separation. Wage records in the form of pay stubs or W-2 forms may also be required.

Payment Methods

Unemployment insurance benefits are paid either via paper check or direct deposit. IDES recommends claimants use direct deposit as the fastest and most convenient method. View the payment methods page for more information.

File A Claim

By clicking the File an Unemployment Insurance Claim button below, you will be taken to the Illinois Benefits Information System (IBIS) system, where you can set up an account to apply for and manage your claim.

What is iLogin in Illinois?

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) and the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) have partnered together to integrate ILogin, a new identity verification and multi-factor authentication (MFA) solution into the IDES unemployment insurance benefit system this week. ILogin creates a new, simple, more secure login process for claimants accessing their IDES accounts, including integrating MFA and identity verification software to protect claimants.

Did the number of nonfarm jobs decrease in Illinois?

The number of nonfarm jobs decreased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in March, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). The unemployment rate increased over-the-year in all metro areas.

What to Know Before Certifying

The best way to complete your certification is online from 3:00am - 7:30pm on your designated certification day, including holidays.

Avoid Common Mistakes

Maintain your eligibility for current and future unemployment insurance benefits by learning about the following common mistakes.

How to calculate weekly unemployment benefits?

The weekly benefit amount is calculated by dividing the sum of the wages earned during the highest quarter of the base period by 26, rounded down to the next lower whole dollar. The result cannot exceed the utmost weekly benefit permitted by rule.

What happens if Illinois unemployment is reversed?

If the decision is reversed at the referee level, you will be required to repay any money you received. Direct Payment. Illinois Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits are paid through a debit card, unless you elect to receive payment by direct deposit to a checking or savings account.

How much do you have to be paid to qualify for unemployment?

To be monetarily eligible for benefits, you must have been paid wages of at least $1,600 for insured work during your base period. Of this amount, at least $440 must have been paid to you outside of the base period quarter in which your wages were the highest. Effective for benefit years beginning on or after January 1, 2008, if you have not earned sufficient wages during the base period described above, we will try to establish your eligibility using a base period consisting of the last four completed quarters.

How is weekly benefit determined?

Your weekly benefit amount is determined by the total wages paid to you by each of your employers during your "base" period. Your base period consists of the first four of the last five quarters (three-month periods) where you earned wages, going back from the time of your initial claim for benefits.

How is unemployment computed?

Unemployment is computed and one half of what your weekly pay was at the time of the discharge up to your state's maximum benefit. You will have to verify with your state's unemployment office to see what the highest payout for your state is. For further details refer unemployment benefits article.

What is base period in unemployment?

The base period is the term used to describe the time frame used as the basis for deciding whether or not you will be monetarily eligible for unemployment.

What is 26xWBA?

WBA is the Weekly Benefit Amount, so 26xWBA would be the regular week program. 1/3 BPW refers to the Base Period Wages, so if a person did not succeed to earn more than 3 times the standard benefit amount, they will be suitable for fewer weeks of coverage.