Business & Work

What happens to your unemployment benefits if you start working part-time?

If your part-time wages The amount of money that a person is paid for work they do are less than your weekly benefit amount, you may be able to receive a full or partial benefit payment. A part-time job is usually one in which you work less than 40 hours per week.

When you certify your unemployment benefits, you must report all gross wages you earned, including wages for part-time work. Gross wages are the amount of all income before taxes or any other deductions.

If you work part-time, how much will you get in unemployment benefits?

This depends on how much you earn in your part-time work. If your gross wages are less than your weekly benefit amount, you still may be eligible for a full or partial benefit payment.

You can earn up to 50% of your weekly benefits amount from any part-time job and still get your full benefits. You can receive partial or reduced benefits if you earn more than 50% of your weekly benefits. Any wages over 50% of your weekly benefit will be deducted from your benefits for that week.

For example, if your weekly benefit amount is $300, you can earn up to $150 per week from your part-time job and still receive full benefits. If you earn $180.50, your benefits will be reduced by the amount you earn over $150, which would be $30.50 in this example. So, your partial benefit amount would be $269.50. This is the weekly benefit amount of $300 minus $30.50. This would be rounded up to $270.

Are there other things that could reduce your benefits?

Yes. 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 A person who relies on another for support, such as a child or person with a disability 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.

Can you become ineligible for unemployment benefits?

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.

Where can you learn more?

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