Illinois Unemployment (2024)

Facing unemployment can be scary, especially when you have dependents to provide for as an employee. Whether someone you love is facing issues with employment security, or you’ve recently found yourself without sufficient income, consider applying for the unemployment benefits Illinois has to offer. At Benefits.com, we helping people claim the benefits they qualify for, especially Illinois residents, and created this Illinois unemployment benefits application guide to walk you through the process.

Unemployment benefits are amounts of money you can apply for to help float you between jobs—as long as you meet eligibility requirements which we’ll discuss shortly. Though each state has its various limits and regulations for the benefit payment an individual can receive, the program is possible through a partnership between both state and federal governments in the United States. The Illinois Department of Unemployment is called the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), and it’s in charge of the unemployment benefits Illinois offers to its residents, people looking to apply should visit their website to get started.

So, where does this money come from? Unemployment benefits are funded by employer payroll taxes in the United States(not employee taxes), which means employers pay into a fund as a sort of insurance for their employees on behalf of their unemployment. In fact, unemployment benefits are typically referred to as “unemployment insurance,” so you can think of it as a fund to ensure these regular unemployment benefits if there’s a possibility of becoming unemployed. If you find yourself unemployed and you meet the Illinois unemployment eligibility criteria for Illinois residents, then you’ll get to pull on that insurance money until you find something else.

So what are the specifics for qualifying for these unemployment benefits? Take a look.

Now we’ll cover the nitty-gritty details of actually applying for unemployment benefits in Illinois.

The Illinois unemployment appeals process doesn’t have to be complicated. There are two ways to appeal a denied unemployment compensation claim. The first is in regard to your UI Finding letter. If your UI Finding letter says your benefit amount is $0, then that means there’s no record of you receiving enough funds during your base period to qualify. If you did work and earn enough to qualify, you’ll need to upload appropriate documentation as soon as possible.

The second way to appeal is to fill out a Request for Reconsideration of Claims Adjudicator’s Determination document with your reasons and any proof you have. If the reconsideration is denied, an appeal is automatically sent to an IDES administrative law judge (“Referee”). You’ll receive a date and time for you to have a recorded hearing via phone with the Referee in which you can present your case.

If you feel the Referee also made an incorrect decision in denying you unemployment benefits in Illinois, then you can appeal to the Board of Review within 30 days by filling out the Notice of Appeal / Board of Review document.