How to File for Illinois Unemployment Benefits
Unemployment is not a sign of failure. It is there to help those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own -- normally being laid off -- get by until they can find new employment. Unemployment rules and filing vary from state to state. In Illinois it is administered through the Illinois Department of Employment Security, or IDES.
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Instructions
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Illinois residents may file using the IDES website application or in person at an IDES workNet Center. You can locate an office on the IDES website by typing in your ZIP code. Illinois workNet Center hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Determine your eligibility. Have you worked in the state of Illinois for most of the past year? Were you fired for no fault of your own? Are you actively looking for work and willing to take the work if you find it? If you answer "yes" to the above questions, you are likely to be eligible for unemployment.
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Gather all the information and documents you will need to apply. These are your Social Security number; the names, birth dates and Social Security numbers of all your dependents; your former employer's name and address; your dates of employment; reasons for your separation from employment and, if you are not a U.S. citizen, your alien registration information.
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Complete the application answering all questions truthfully.
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Certify with IDES every two weeks, if your benefits are approved. Certifying means you are checking back in so the state of Illinois can make sure you are still unemployed and looking for work. Taking work for less than the income you made with your last employer will not necessarily disqualify you, but you must make less than your benefit, and your benefit will be reduced by what you earn.
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Tips & Warnings
A Statement of Certification will be sent to you in the mail every two weeks confirming the information you have given and also telling you the appropriate time for your next certification.
You will be asked to register at IllinoisSkillsMatch.com to help you find a job that matches your skill set and pay level. This step is meant to help you get off Illinois unemployment insurance quicker.
Illinois unemployment money is subject to federal and state incomes taxes.
If you find employment you must notify IDES immediately.
References
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