Does Illinois Pay Underemployment Benefits?

Illinois tied with several states for having the highest underemployment rate in the U.S. in 2010.

In a tough economy, many Americans can find themselves in a difficult situation by being underemployed. According to a Gallup Poll, for the 2010 year, the underemployment rate in Illinois ranged from 21 to 24.9 percent. That rate includes people who are either unemployed or working part time but wish to be full time. Fortunately, the state of Illinois does provides some benefits for underemployed Illinoisans that can help make up for lost income.

Underemployment Defined

Being underemployed, also known as partially employed, can indicate a few conditions. Some workers that were previously employed full time might have retained their jobs but had their hours cut significantly. Other cases include those that have been unemployed but are now working part time while they continue to search for full-time work. In Illinois and many other states, workers are considered underemployed if their weekly earnings are less than the weekly benefit amount (WBA), which is determined based on their previous full-time salary and their number of dependents. Those who are earning half of the WBA or less are considered unemployed.

Qualifying

In addition to the monetary requirement of earning less than the WBA, underemployed workers in Illinois must also meet other eligibility requirements. They must be underemployed because the employer reduced wages or hours due to "no-fault" circumstances. This means that the employee did not do anything wrong to cause the cut in work. Also like standard unemployment benefits, they must have worked for the previous 18 months in order to determine base wage and must continuously be looking for opportunities to return to full-time status.

Benefits

In Illinois, the WBA ranges for an individual from a minimum of $51 to a maximum of $388 per week. For someone filing with a spouse who does not work, they can receive $458 a week, and those with children or other dependents can get up to $531. In the case of underemployed workers, they will be paid the difference between their WBAs and the actual wages they are making. Like unemployment payments, these underemployment benefits typically last up to 26 weeks in Illinois, but the state allows for extension of up to one year in certain cases, such as temporary disability.

How to File for Benefits

Illinoisans must have a social security number, driver's license or government I.D., address, phone number and current employer's information to file for underemployment benefits. Similar information will also be necessary if claiming any dependents. They may then formally file online (Illinois.gov) or at an Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) office. When filing, workers must also register for IDES job placement services. In some cases, those filing may be required to conduct an interview.

References

• Illinois Department of Employment Security: UI Eligibility
• Illinois Department of Employment Security: What Information Do I Need to File an Unemployment Insurance Claim Online?
• Illinois Department of Employment Security: I Filed My Claim - What Happens Now?
• Illinois Department of Employment Security: File for Unemployment Insurance
• Illinois Department of Employment Security: What is My Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA)?
• U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Security: Chapter 3, Monetary Entitlement
• American Federation of Teachers: Underemployment Fact Sheet
• Gallup: In U.S., Underemployment Lowest in North Dakota, Wyoming