Can You Live in Missouri & Claim Illinois Unemployment?

Unemployed workers can file for unemployment insurance benefits in Illinois if they worked in Illinois but reside in Missouri. Furthermore, according to the federal Interstate Benefit Payment Plan, unemployed claimants who lived in Illinois but moved to Missouri may be eligible for continuing unemployment benefits from Illinois. Similarly, unemployed claimants who lived in Illinois but moved to Missouri may qualify for continuing unemployment benefits from Illinois.

Overview

Missouri residents can receive unemployment insurance benefits from the Illinois Department of Employment Security if they worked in Illinois and became unemployed or partially unemployed. Eligibility does not depend on where claimants reside; instead, it depends on whether they earned a sufficient amount of wages during a base period of employment before becoming unemployed, whether they were without fault for becoming partially or totally unemployed and whether they continue looking for full-time employment. Qualified applicants can receive unemployment benefits pursuant to Illinois law -- not Missouri law -- and can receive up to 26 weeks of annual benefits.

Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act

The Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act establishes the qualification requirements for Illinois residents and nonresidents. To qualify, claimants must continue looking for work in Illinois or in their home states. Where claimants look for work is unimportant for unemployment insurance benefit purposes. Illinois' only interest is that claimants find suitable work, regardless of which state they find it.

Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program

All states participate in the Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program. Each state administers its own program according to federal laws; as well, each state may legally enact legislation establishing the total time claimants can receive unemployment insurance benefits, the amount of weekly benefits and the eligibility requirements for receiving benefits. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, applicants should file for benefits with the unemployment agency in the states in which they worked and became unemployed.

Federal Interstate Benefit Payment Plan

All states also participate in the Interstate Benefit Payment Plan assisting one another in centralizing the collection of payments and benefits to unemployed claimants who relocate from their home states to other states. Generally, claimants who move from their home states must continue filing for unemployment insurance benefits that are payable by their home states.

Agent and Liable States

The agent state is a claimant's state of relocation or moving state. According to the Interstate Benefit Payment Plan, the liable state is the home state, and the home state is responsible for paying unemployment benefits to eligible claimants who move to agent states. However, claimants can file or unemployment insurance benefits through their agent state's unemployment office, and agent states send their claims to their home states.

References

• U.S. Department of Labor: State Unemployment Insurance Benefits
• Illinois Department of Employment Security: Unemployment Insurance Benefits Handbook
• Missouri Department of Labor: Frequently Asked Questions for Claimants
• U.S. Department of Labor: Interstate Benefit Payment Plan
• Illinois Department of Employment Security: Your Rights and Responsibilities as an Interstate Benefits Claimant

Resources

• Missouri Department of Labor Division of Employment Security: Help Topics for the Unemployed
• Illinois Department of Employment Security: Unemployment Insurance Benefits Handbook
• Missouri Department of Labor Division of Employment Security: What You Need to Know About Unemployment Insurance in Missouri