Business & Work

If you lost your job through no fault of your own, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits.

First, gather any and all information or paperwork you have related to the entire time you worked for your employer. 

This includes:

• Employer addresses,
• Income tax information,
• Social Security number and name on your Social Security Card,
• Records of any pension payment you are receiving, and
• Other benefits you received.

You should find and organize these documents as soon as possible.

For more information on what you might need, see Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) Frequently Asked Questions.

To avoid any delays in getting unemployment benefits, you should file the application during the first week of unemployment.

There are 2 ways to file the application:

• Use the IDES's online application. You will have to create a username and password, or
• Apply for benefits in person at your local IDES office.

After you file your claim, you will receive information from IDES in the mail. If your request for benefits has been approved, you will receive an unemployment insurance (UI) finding letter. This letter will describe your benefits and will list the day that you need to call IDES to certify your benefits. If you do not receive your letter within 3-4 weeks, you should call IDES. Find out if they have made a decision. That way, you can appeal if you have been denied.

You may receive a letter from IDES about an "adjudication interview." This means that you must speak or meet with someone from IDES to verify that you are eligible for benefits. Most interviews are done over the phone. The letter will give you a date and time for the meeting. It will also give you more information about who to contact. 

Make sure you do not miss this interview. If you do, you might be denied. Then you will have to appeal. Filing an appeal makes the process harder. If you cannot make the scheduled date, contact the IDES immediately.

Before you begin receiving benefits, you will need to call the IDES "Tele-Serve" system or use the online system and certify your claim on your designated day. Certification is how you verify that you are still entitled to benefits.

You will need to provide information to identify yourself and provide any wage information about money you received. You will also need to answer various questions that will determine whether you are still eligible for benefits. This includes whether you have been looking for work. You must seek employment to get benefits. You should keep a log of the jobs you have applied for and the status of any employment applications.

Learn more about the certification process.

If IDES denies your application, you can appeal this decision within 30 days.

The letter you receive from IDES explains the appeal process. Talk to a lawyer who has experience with unemployment appeals to discuss your situation. There is a lot of money at stake if you are denied benefits. For more information on appealing, see Appealing an unemployment benefits decision.

IDES requires that you keep looking for work on a weekly basis while you receive unemployment benefits. Illinois JobLink helps connect job seekers to employers.

You must keep a log of the jobs you have applied for and the status of any employment applications. You should use the IDES work search record form to keep track.