Unemployment insurance is a statewide government program in Illinois. It gives money to people who are temporarily out of work. It is run by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

You have to meet certain requirements to get money from the program. 

How do I apply for UI?

The best way to apply is online at the IDES website. You may also call (800) 244-5631. But there are long wait times on the phone.

If you apply online, you must use a desktop computer, a laptop, or a tablet. You cannot use a smartphone.

In general, you cannot apply for benefits in person. Some of the IDES local workforce offices provide some in-person services, but you need to set an appointment unless you are just dropping off documents. To set an appointment, call the scheduling hotline at (217) 558-0401. Be sure to explain why you are not able to apply online or by phone.

What information do I need to apply for UI?

In order to apply for UI, you should have the following information on hand:

• Your Social Security number,
• Your driver’s license or State ID,
• Your employment history from the past 18 months, including the name of employers, start date, last day of work, and number of days worked, and
• Your dependent’s name, social security number, and date of birth if you are claiming a dependent child or spouse.

If you do not have a State ID or driver’s license, you will need another form of ID. It must not be expired. It must show your name, address, and date of birth.

When should I apply for UI?

You should apply as soon as possible. Ideally, apply within the first week of your unemployment.

The application is closed every day between 8:00-10:00 PM.

When is the best time to apply? 

You’re not required to apply right away. IDES won’t punish you for waiting. 

However, your weekly benefit amount (WBA) can change based on when you apply. If you wait too long, you may not qualify for benefits if your earnings history expires. 

If your employer fights your claim, you have to appeal. Then your payment will likely be delayed.

What if I messed up my UI application?

You can correct your application or claim information by calling the IDES at (800) 244-5631.

You may have trouble reaching the IDES by phone. The busiest call times are between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. You can also contact IDES at these phone numbers.

Who qualifies for unemployment insurance (UI)?

To qualify for unemployment insurance, you must be unemployed, and it must not be your fault. For example, you do not qualify if you quit because you did not like the work that you were doing. Or if you were fired because of misconduct.

You must also have made a certain amount of money recently. The period of time IDES looks at for your income is your “base period.”  To see if you qualify:

1. Look at the date you are planning to make your claim. 
2. Look at the date of the upcoming Sunday of that week. 
   • If that date is before March 31st, 2023, your “base period” is October 1st, 2021 to September 30th, 2022.
   • If that date is between April 1st, 2023 and June 30, 2023, your “base period” is January 1st, 2022 to December 31st, 2022.
   • If that date is between July 1st, 2023 and September 30, 2023, your "base period" is April 1st, 2022 to March 31, 2023.
   • If that date is between October 1st, 2023 and December 31st, 2023, your "base period" is July 1st, 2022 to June 30th, 2023.
3. Break up your “base period” into 3-month sections, starting on the first day. Each section is called a “quarter.” 
4. Add up the total amount of wages for each quarter and write those numbers down.
5. Find the quarter with the highest amount of wages. Ignore that amount and add the total amount you made in the other 3 quarters. The amount must be $440 or more, not including*:
   • Agricultural work for an employer that employs less than 10 people,
   • Domestic work for an employer that pays less than $1,000 a quarter for those services,
   • Railroad work,
   • Work for another family member,
   • Work as a salesman paid by commission outside of a permanent retail business, or
   • Government-funded work-relief or work training.
6. Now add up the wages you made during your entire “base period” (all four quarters). The total must be $1,600 or more, with the same exclusions above.

*Not a full list. IDES will tell you if you qualify after you apply.

Why was I denied unemployment benefits?

Even if you meet the minimum earnings requirements, you may be disqualified from receiving benefits for a number of reasons. These include:

• Quitting your job without good cause,
• Being fired for misconduct,
• Not applying for or accepting a suitable job offer,
• Receiving unemployment benefits from another state,
• Receiving pension payments for any week you are claiming benefits, and
• Not legally working in the U.S.

For a complete list of disqualifications, see pages 5-6 of the IDES Unemployment Insurance Benefits Handbook.

Do [no-lexicon]immigrants[/no-lexicon] qualify for unemployment benefits?

You can apply for unemployment benefits if you are a green card holder, a DACA recipient, or an asylum grantee. To receive benefits, you must have work authorization now and during your “base period.” This will not affect your immigration status. 

Unemployment benefits are considered “earned” benefits. They will not make you a “public charge,” unlike some public benefits, like SNAP.

Not all workers are covered. Certain agricultural workers and domestic workers cannot receive unemployment benefits in Illinois. 

If you have specific questions about your immigration status, use Get Legal Help to find a lawyer.

How much money will I get?

The amount of money you get each week depends on how much you earned in your “base period” (see above). The amount will be higher if you have a dependent spouse or children. You cannot claim both your spouse and children. Learn more about weekly benefit amounts on the IDES table of benefit calculations. 

As of October 2023, the maximum weekly benefit amount is:

• $578 with no dependents,
• $688 with a dependent spouse, or
• $787 with a dependent child or children.

Can creditors garnish my unemployment benefits?

No. Public or government benefits are protected from most creditors. This includes unemployment benefits. However, if you owe a debt to the government, the government may be allowed to garnish your benefits.

Will [no-lexicon]child support[/no-lexicon] be deducted from my unemployment benefits?

If you file for unemployment benefits, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (IDHFS) can have your current child support payments deducted from those benefits. Child support can only be deducted if the custodial parent has a child support case.

Past due child support can be deducted from your benefits if the IDES receives a court order to withhold income. If you entered into an agreement to pay past due child support, it may be enforced by the IDHFS. They will send the original agreement to the IDES and request the payments be deducted. The agreement must clearly state:

• The amount to be deducted,
• The recipient of the payments,
• When the deductions are to be made, and 
• Why you are required to make payments.

Learn more about paying child support when you are unemployed and changing child support payments.

What happens after I file a claim?

After filing your claim, you will receive a "Finding." The Finding will tell you whether you have enough earnings to qualify for unemployment benefits. The Finding Letter does not tell you whether IDES has made a decision on whether you meet the other requirements for unemployment benefits. Learn more about Finding Letters.

IDES also will look at the reason that your job ended. A claims adjudicator may interview you and may interview your employer. The claims adjudicator will make a decision on whether you are eligible for benefits and will send you a determination letter to let you know that decision. If the decision goes against you, you have the right to appeal. If the decision is that you are eligible for benefits, your employer may have the right to appeal.

How do I certify for benefits? What if I miss my certification date?

To get your benefits, you must certify every two weeks. You will certify that you are still unemployed, able and available to work, and actively seeking work. You also need to report any income you have earned. For each of the two weeks you are certifying, you must report the gross income that you earned, even if you will not actually receive the money until later. 

The Finding Letter will assign you a certification day. Your certification day will be on either Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. You must certify on the day listed on your Finding. If you miss your certification day, you can certify on Thursday or Friday of that week. You must certify every two weeks. You can do this online or by calling Tele-Serve at (312) 338-4337.

IDES will not accept late certifications. Failure to certify on your assigned day (or the Thursday or Friday of that week) could cause a denial of benefits or a delay in processing your benefits.

Important: If you are denied unemployment benefits and you are filing an appeal, you must continue to certify. If you do not certify while your appeal is pending, you will not get benefits for those weeks even if you win the appeal.

In addition to certifying, you must make and keep a record of your job search. You will need to give that record to IDES if they ask for it.

Learn more about certifying for benefits.

My payment was delayed or I did not receive it at all. Why is this happening?

The IDES sends a debit card a few days after your application is processed. However, it can take a few weeks for the IDES to determine your benefits. This may be why you received a debit card with a $0 balance. You can also set up your bank account to receive direct deposit by logging into your account on the IDES website.

How long does unemployment insurance last?

Unemployment insurance lasts for 26 weeks (6 months). During certain times when the unemployment rate is high, there may be extended benefits for an additional 13 weeks. As of October 2023, the unemployment rate in Illinois is not high, and extended benefits are not available.

Can my employer fight my claim?

Yes. An employer's tax rate depends on how many claims are approved and paid to their employees. So they have the right to fight a claim if they don’t think it is proper.

When do unemployment benefits start?

Unemployment benefits start the Sunday before you file. This means that as long as you are able to file by Saturday, you will not miss out on the week of benefits.

You must file a benefits claim by the end of the first week in which you are unemployed. If you file later and do not request backdating, your claim will start the week it was filed.

If you file after your first week of being unemployed but within a year, you can request the IDES backdate your claim. Claims can be backdated if you can show:

• You were unaware of your rights to benefits,
• Your employer or the IDES did not fulfill their legal responsibilities,
• Your employer told you not to file a claim for benefits, or
• There were other circumstances outside your control.

You must also show that you filed your claim within 14 days after your reason for not filing ended.

Note that you should tell IDES when you get a job and no longer need unemployment benefits. Notify IDES Claimant Services as soon as possible, no later than 14 days after the day you were supposed to certify. Failure to report your return to work could lead to penalties and fraud charges. To report your return to work, call the IDES New Hire Unit at (888) 776-7708. 

If you did not file your claim on time because of issues with the IDES website, ask a rep about backdating your claim by calling (800) 244-5631.

Do I need to look for work while I get unemployment?

Generally yes. You must register with IllinoisJobLink.com and keep a record of your efforts to find work. Your record should include:

• a list of every job you applied for,
• the name of the employer,
• how you applied for the job (phone call, mailing a resume, filling out a job application in person or online),
• the date you applied for the job,
• the name of the person you talked to, if you talked to someone at the employer,
• the type of job you applied for, and
• the hours and pay for the job, if you know. 

Your job search must be designed to find a job that you are able to perform. If you have experience in a certain kind of work, you should apply for jobs in that work. You can apply for other kinds of jobs too, but IDES generally will expect you to look for jobs in your line of work.

There is no rule saying specifically how many job contacts or applications you must make every week. However, you must make multiple contacts every week. If you make just a handful of applications each week, IDES is likely to find that you did not conduct a reasonable job search.

The longer you are out of work, the wider your job search needs to be. In other words, IDES will expect you to commute farther or accept somewhat lower pay as the time you have been out of work grows.

Can I still get unemployment benefits if I turn down a job offer?

The IDES website has information about refusing to return to work. You must show you have a good reason for refusing a suitable work offer. The IDES will consider:

• The degree of risk involved to your health, safety, and morals,
• Your physical fitness and prior training,
• Your experience and prior earnings,
• The length of unemployment and work prospects in your usual occupation, and 
• The distance of the available work from your residence.

Was my employer allowed to fire me? Will IDES think I was fired for misconduct and deny my unemployment insurance benefits?

The questions of whether an employer is allowed to fire you and whether IDES will decide that you were fired for misconduct and cannot receive benefits are two different questions. In many situations, the employer is allowed to fire someone, but that person still can get unemployment benefits. 

Illinois is an at-will employment state. Unless you are protected by a union contract, you can be fired for any reason or for no reason at all, as long as the employer does not fire you for an unlawful reason. Unlawful reasons include employment discrimination (such as age, race, disability, or sex discrimination), being fired for whistle-blowing, or being fired for union organizing.

When IDES considers your case, if you were laid off, fired, or discharged, you will not be disqualified from receiving benefits unless you were fired for “misconduct.” Every case is different, but in general, misconduct means that you deliberately or intentionally did something that violated the employer’s work-related rules. What you did must have harmed the employer or been very likely to harm the employer, or you must have violated the rule after the employer gave you a warning. If IDES says that you were discharged for misconduct, you have the right to appeal that decision. Learn more about appealing an unemployment denial.

You can also learn more about getting unemployment benefits if you were fired.

Can I get unemployment benefits if I quit my job? What if I quit my job because of my health?

It is more difficult to win unemployment insurance benefits if you quit than if you are discharged by your employer, but you may be able to get benefits if you leave your job. If you leave your job for a good reason, and that reason is the fault of the employer, you will not be disqualified from unemployment benefits as long as you tried to resolve the situation before you quit. 

There are exceptions to the rule that to get benefits the reason you quit must be the employer’s fault. One exception is if your doctor told you that you are not physically able to perform the job because of your health. To qualify for unemployment benefits, you still must be able to do other work that is less physically demanding. If you leave work because you do not think your health allows you to do the job, and you are not acting on the advice of your doctor, you will not get benefits. Learn more about protections for workers with disabilities. 

Could I qualify for unemployment benefits if I am a gig worker or an [no-lexicon]independent contractor[/no-lexicon]? 

In general, if you run your own business or are a true independent contractor, you are not eligible for unemployment insurance. During the pandemic, there were special unemployment benefits for these groups, but those programs have ended.

Some employers treat employees as independent contractors even though they are actually employees. The employer may do this to gain a tax advantage. If your employer sets your days and times of work, for example, you are not an independent contractor even though your employer tries to say that you are. If this is your situation, you should be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. 

If you are in the Illinois arts community, Lawyers for the Creative Arts might be able to give you free legal help. You can apply on their website. They help people no matter if they are a W-2 employee, 1099, freelancer, or gig economy worker.

Will collecting unemployment affect my Social Security benefits?

No. In general, collecting unemployment will not affect your benefits.

However, if you are receiving Social Security or SSI disability benefits, you have indicated to Social Security that you cannot work a full-time or close to full-time job. To get unemployment insurance, you must be able and available to work, and looking for work. Both of these can be true if you are looking for part-time work. Also, unemployment insurance is income that can affect your SSI disability or old age benefits. You must report it to Social Security.

If I live in Illinois but commute to work to a different state, where do I file for unemployment?

File in the state where you pay state income taxes.

Do I have to be completely out of work to qualify for unemployment benefits?

No. You can still qualify even if:

• You still work part-time,
• Your hours were reduced, or
• You were working two jobs and now are only working one.

Self-employment income does not count toward calculating your benefits. Benefits are based on your current and past income. See How much money do you get? and learn more about receiving unemployment benefits when you work a part-time or temp job.

Do I stop receiving unemployment insurance benefits if I am hired for a short-term job?

It depends on your wages.

If your gross wages are less than your weekly benefit amount, you may still be eligible to get a full or partial benefit payment.

If your gross wages are more than your weekly benefit amount, you will not be eligible for a benefit payment.

You must notify IDES as soon as you are hired for any job, even if it is short-term. If you plan to continue to use your unemployment insurance benefits, you should continue to certify your income. 

If you stop working again, you need to notify the change to IDES. You will go back to getting the full weekly benefit amount.

Can I [no-lexicon]appeal[/no-lexicon] the decision if I am denied unemployment benefits?

You have the right to appeal any determination that denies you benefits. Learn more about appealing an unemployment denial.

If you received benefits but then IDES finds that you were not eligible, you may receive a notice of overpayment. Learn more about what to do if you get an overpayment notice.  

How do I tell IDES I got a job and don’t need unemployment benefits anymore?

Notify IDES Claimant Services as soon as possible, but not later than 14 days after the day you were supposed to certify. Failure to report your return to work could lead to penalties and fraud charges.

To report your return to work, call the IDES New Hire Unit at (888) 776-7708.

What other resources are available if I do not qualify for benefits?

If you do not qualify for unemployment benefits, there are a few other options for relief.

The Restaurant Employee Relief Fund offers emergency help to restaurant workers who have had an unanticipated hardship in the past 90 days. A hardship could be an accident, illness, injury, the death of an immediate family member, or a natural disaster. Learn more about eligibility and how to apply through the Illinois Restaurant Association.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps people with low income pay for food. Learn more about SNAP benefits and how to apply.