Your unemployment benefits can be affected by a part-time job or a temp job.

A part-time job is usually one in which you work less than 40 hours per week. A temp job might be full-time or part-time, and it may affect your unemployment benefits either way. 

You are allowed to earn up to 50% of your weekly benefits amount from any job that is part-time, either permanent or temporary. Your benefits will be reduced if you earn more than 50% of your weekly benefits.

For example, if your weekly benefit amount is $300, you may earn up to $150 per week from your part-time job. If you get more than $150, your benefits will be decreased and you will not get your maximum possible amount.

Your benefits may be reduced by any vacation or holiday pay you get. Your benefits may also decrease if you're unable to work, typically by 20% of your eligible amount. But you will still receive any dependent allowance money you are eligible for.​ Dependent allowance money is money you can be paid if you have a spouse who doesn’t work, or a child.

Note that these reductions in your unemployment benefits can be combined to make you ineligible for benefits. For example, say your weekly benefits amount is $150 and you earn $100 in part-time work. If you have no vacation pay, then you will be eligible for reduced benefits because the money you get from part-time work ($100) is less than your benefits amount ($150). But if you also get $75 from vacation pay, then you won’t be eligible for benefits. The money you get from part-time work and vacation pay ($175) is more than your benefits amount ($150). This makes you ineligible.

The Illinois Department of Economic Security (IDES) is in charge of unemployment insurance. You can contact IDES at (800) 244-5631 or visit their website.

Self-Employment

Note that unemployment benefits are based on wages received from an employer. Income received for services performed in self-employment is not considered. But when certifying every two weeks for regular benefits, you are required to report all income. It doesn't matter if it is regular wages from an employer or money earned from your self-employment.

IDES provides answers to these and other common questions.