Illinois (IL) IDES Unemployment and State Benefit Programs – Latest News and Updates After Pandemic Benefits Expiry

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) manages the states’ unemployment insurance program, systems and benefit processing/payments. See further details below, summarized for simplicity from the IDES site, on the currently available unemployment benefits and now expired enhanced pandemic benefits.

Please also see the many comments in the forum at the end of the article where people have shared their stories, tips and struggles getting paid under one or more of these programs.

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How Much Unemployment Can I Get In Illinois?

With the end of the pandemic unemployment programs, only traditional or regular state unemployment benefits will be available in 2022, unless another extension is approved (highly unlikely).

In Illinois, this provides coverage for 26 weeks with a weekly payment ranging from $542 to $742 depending on if you are claiming dependents and your earned income over the two quarters of the base period when you earned the most. The table below provides additional details.

You will need to submit a claim or certify your application via your state’s unemployment department to get your actual weekly benefit amount (WBA).

Further if you are being paid severance via a layoff or able to use sick leave or paid vacation, you cannot claim unemployment.

You will also need to certify for benefits at regular intervals (weekly or bi-weekly), demonstrate ongoing work availability and evidence of job search requirements to keep getting weekly unemployment benefits.

Weekly Unemployment Available with Dependents (Min – Max)With 0 Dependents: $51 – $542
With Non-Working Spouse: $66  – $646 (extra benefit = $15 to $104)
With Children: $77 – $742 (extra benefit = $26 to $200)
Max number of Weeks covered in Benefit Year26
Min Qualifying Wage Base for getting UnemploymentMinimum Qualifying Wages: In Base Period = $1600 ($440 in outside highest wage quarter)
Statewide average weekly wage for 2022 = $1,152.84
Part-Time Workers UI benefits key criteria If Wages > 50% of your weekly benefit, earned wage amount will be deducted from your weekly unemployment benefits
If Wages < 50% of your weekly benefit amount, you can receive your full amount of unemployment benefits for that week
2022 IL Max Unemployment Benefits (see full IDES payment table)

Note that to qualify for unemployment, your job loss will generally need to be involuntary. I.e. job loss through no fault of your own. You also need to certify and demonstrate ongoing work search requirements (see section below) to keep getting payments.

Why is my weekly benefit payment lower than the maximum amount?

Your actual weekly benefit amount (WBA) is the amount of money your state agency has determined you and your dependents (where available) may receive for regular unemployment insurance after filing a claim. This can change weekly based on your certification or claim for benefits.

Further, a claimant’s weekly benefit amount cannot exceed 47% of the statewide average weekly wage for the year, shown in the table above.

It is based on the amount that you were paid by all employers over the states pre-defined basic or alternate wage based period(s), which are generally based on the past 4 to 5 calendar quarters spanning 12 to 18 months. The higher your earnings, the higher your approved WBA will be, up to the maximum amount allowed in the state.

Any part time or temporary earnings from employment or other activities during eligible weeks you are claiming and certifying for benefits, will potentially reduce the amount of benefits you may get.

Can I Still File a Claim for Back Dated PUA or PEUC benefits?

IDES was accepting PUA applications until October 6th, 2021. After this date no new applications will be accepted.

However IDES has noted that claimants with pending decisions may still be paid retroactively for weeks before September 4th, 2021, if they are later deemed eligible. New claims for past periods are no longer being accepted.

Also per the IDES site (see archived programs section) the last payable/covered week for federal programs (PUA, PEUC, FPUC, and MEUC) was September 4th, 2021.

End of Federal Enhanced Benefits in Illinois (PUA, PEUC, $300 FPUC and $100 MEUC)

Claimants on the PEUC, PUA, MEUC and FPUC programs filed/certified for benefits for the last time covering the week ending September 4, 2021. Any active claims with or without remaining balances expired after this date.

While there has been a lot of discussion around extending pandemic unemployment benefits, the Biden administration has confirmed that states will have to use already allocated stimulus funding to expand or extend traditional state unemployment programs. IDES has not indicated that is planning to do so at this stage, but I will post updates if things change.

Some claimants may be eligible for State Extended Benefits (SEB), but after September 4th all claimants must have a regular UI claim to continue receiving benefits.

If you still need support, you might be able to receive extra help with other necessities such as child care, food, housing, and health insurance.

Will Illinois (IL) Unemployment be Extended Again in 2021 or End Early?

With several states ending federally funded unemployment benefits earlier than planned (see full list) to encourage workers to return to work, there was a concern this action could spread nationwide. But the good news for unemployed workers in Illinois is that most of the states cancelling unemployment benefits are Republican led, which Illinois is most certainly not.

IDES has confirmed that Illinois claimants will keep ALL eligible pandemic unemployment benefits, including the extra $300 weekly payment, until the current program end date which would be the week ending September 4th, 2021.

However it should be noted that work search requirements are being more rigorously enforced by IDES and there will be a lot more scrutiny of job rejections if not for pandemic or health related reasons. I will post further updates as they come to light and you can stay connected via the options below.

Unemployment Overpayment Forgiveness

New Legislation has been put in place to forgive unintentional overpayment of unemployment benefits by and signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker. Nearly $125 million of benefits are estimated to have been overpaid, covering around 76,000 claimants.

If claimants are approved for the repayment waiver, they won’t have to pay back any unemployment overpayments. Past repayments won’t be refunded however.

No action is needed from claimants at this stage and once systems/programs are updated, IDES will send letters to claimants who were overpaid according to their records.

Eligibility will be decided on a case by case basis and you can see more program details here. I will post further updates as details are released.

2021 Biden Stimulus Bill Extensions

Under President Biden’s $1.9 trillion federal coronavirus relief package, known as the American Rescue Plan (ARP), enhanced unemployment benefits have been extended until September 6th. This includes further extensions to the PUA program, PEUC program, $300 weekly payment under the FPUC program and $100 Mixed Earners (MEUC) program. There were also provisions in the Biden Stimulus package for Unemployment tax breaks on the first $10,200 of benefits received in 2020.

Latest News and Status on PUA, PEUC and $300 FPUC Payments

IDES has now implemented the extended weeks under the Biden ARPA plan, which provides coverage until the week ending September 4th, 2021. But as with past rollouts there have been challenges and issues for many claimants. See the comments forum below for more and be aware of the following general guidelines:

IL IDES Unemployment Benefit Extensions
  • You do not need to reapply for benefits and you will automatically be enrolled you in the appropriate extension. The exception to this are claimants who live in other states may receive notice that they must file an additional application.
  • You should continue to file your weekly claim for benefits as you normally would as long as you remain unemployed.
  • You will not need to contact the department in order for these program extensions to take effect. They should automatically be reflected in your claim unless an issue arises (look for IDES communication/notifications)
  • The additional weekly payment of $300 under the FPUC program will be extended through September 4, 2021 as well.
  • Claimants may receive determinations and notifications that do not reflect the updated information from the newly passed bill as the state may still be in the process of system programming updates. An accurate monetary determination reflecting all weeks and benefits available to you once programming is updated  
  • Claimants on extended state benefits (EB) as of March 11, 2021 will remain on EB. When they exhaust EB, or EB triggers off, they will transition back to PEUC, which was extended through September 4, 2021.

There are however some known issue many claimants are reporting (see comments below this article for more detailed discussions and options)

  • Many are reporting scam emails to potential claimants asking for personal and private data. Do not share this online or to people you don’t know. Only go to the IDES site to load documents and provide required certifications.
  • Its still hard to get through to someone at IDES for those whose benefits have lapsed. Keep trying as in some instances you will need a live representative to manually progress your claim or to provide additional information to verify your claim.
  • While the PUA and PEUC extensions are now available till Sep 4th, many people are reporting a lapse in benefits, which is mainly due to the need to provide additional documentation (PUA claimants) or not filing a new claim after you have reached your benefit year end.
  • Some people who returned to work and stopped claiming benefits, but are now unemployed again are having a tough time reinstating claim due to manual checks the state UI agency has to do, which is taking more time than expected. Retroactive payments will be made for eligible weeks but this is a known issue.
  • If you previously exhausted your PUA or PEUC benefits, the additional payments cannot be backdated for weeks prior to March 14, 2021.

2021 Unemployment Program Extensions Under COVID Relief Bill

The $900 billion COVID-19 relief package was passed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, which among several other pandemic relief measures extends and provides additional federal funding for enhanced unemployment benefits. This includes the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) and a reinstatement, but halving of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) Program which provides a $300 supplemental weekly unemployment payment.

These programs have been funded and extended for 11 weeks (on top of any state funded extensions), covering the weeks of December 27th, 2020 to March 14th, 2021. To receive FPUC benefits, you must first be receiving regular UI, PEUC, EB, or PUA. So if there delays in rolling out or renewing your claim for those programs, then your $300 extra weekly payment will be delayed.

IL IDES Payment Status and Updates on 2021 Unemployment Extensions (PUA, PEUC and $300 FPUC)

[Update Feb 5th, 2021] IDES has recently posted additional updates on the 11-week benefits extension rollout. I have summarized this below and also provided this recent YouTube video update.

  • $300 FPUC: Paying for now for those who can file PUA, PUEC, Regular UI or EB claims. This additional supplemental benefit applies between the week ending January 2, 2021 and the week ending March 13, 2021.
  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – Notification of 11-week Extension to be sent on February 1st, 2021
    • Continued Claimants: IDES is instructing all PUA claimants who applied and were approved for PUA benefits prior to the week ending December 26, 2020, and had not exhausted benefit eligibility, to continue to certify to avoid an interruption in benefit payment.
    • Claimants Who Had Exhausted PUA Benefits: PUA claimants who had exhausted benefit eligibility prior to the week ending December 26, 2020 may remain eligible under the extension provided in the CAA and will be notified by IDES of the additional weeks added to their claim based on the method the claimant selected to receive correspondence from the Department.
    • New Claimants: The PUA system is undergoing technical changes to move new PUA claimants to pay status and begin the process of verifying wage and employment or self-employment information supplied by the claimant. The CAA also includes a limitation on backdating new PUA claims. Per the CAA, in most cases claimants filing a new PUA claim after December 27, 2020 can backdate to December 6, 2020.

Additional PUA Documentation – During the week of February 1, 2021, notices will be sent to inform claimants of the additional 11 weeks of eligibility, in addition to requests to verify employment or self-employment. The notification will include a deadline to provide information to the Department. Individuals filing a new PUA claim on or after January 31, 2021 (regardless whether the claim is backdated), are required to provide this documentation within 21 days of application or the date determined by IDES. Individuals who applied for PUA before January 31, 2021 and receive(d) a payment of PUA on or after December 27, 2020, are required to provide employment or self-employment documentation, or documentation demonstrating the beginning of employment or self-employment, within 90 days of application or the date determined by IDES. These deadlines may be extended if the individual shows good cause, and deadlines will be communicated on verification requests provided by the Department. See examples of documentation required.

  • Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC): The CAA provides an additional 11 weeks of PEUC benefits. However, claimant transition to PEUC will vary based on how and when claimants exhaust eligibility for benefits within the various regular and federal unemployment programs. Transition will be evaluated and determined on a claimant-by-claimant basis, and claimants will be notified of their transitions.
  • Transition Language Between Programs or with a New Benefit Year: The Department’s subject-matter experts are working through the transition language necessary to maintain eligibility for claimants who may exhaust various programs. This involves programming and testing changes within all programs.
  • Extended Benefits (EB): According to unemployment rate data published by the federal government, the Illinois unemployment rate has fallen below the threshold established by law for the additional 7 weeks of EB to be available in Illinois. Illinois remains triggered onto the standard 13 weeks of EB, and is available to claimants who have exhausted the allotted 26 weeks of regular state unemployment benefits, the 13 weeks of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) benefits, and (in some cases) the additional 11 weeks of PEUC benefits established under the CAA. Claimants who received 13 or more weeks of EB will transition to the maximum 11 additional weeks of PEUC.

You can see the full IDES guidelines here. I will post additional details as they are released in coming days. So stay tuned for updates.

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[Update Jan 20th] IDES is only paying the extended coverage benefits to active claimants (those who have weeks left to certify). They are still updating their systems to cover those who had exhausted benefits prior to December 27th and are eligible for PUA and PEUC payments under the new 11 week extension. Once that it is done IDES is supposed to notify claimants on instructions to get the extended weeks. When they are able to certify for these weeks, they will also get the supplementary $300 payment. Unfortunately no clear date on when the system updates will be completed.

Per their social media (twitter) updates IDES has begun paying the $300 FPUC supplement for week ending Jan 2, 2021 to locals receiving regular UI, State extended benefits and with active Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims as of December 27th, 2020. Those who had exhausted their benefits prior to December 27th, are still unable to receive benefits under the new extension, including the extra $300 weekly payment. IDES is still updating their systems to make this payment.

Final guidelines on these programs and final eligibility including additional document verification procedures to combat Fraud have been issued by the Department of Labor and then have to be implemented by the state UI agency in their systems and programs. So this could delay the actual date of payments.

UI claimants with existing or expired claim balances should be aware of the following general guidelines:

  • PUA and PEUC, FPUC will be automatically added to the claimants’ benefits if they are eligible for the weeks outlined in the new legislation.
  • IDES advises to continue to certify as normal for the unemployment benefits you’re currently receiving. Regular UI claimants should continue to certify to transition to PEUC and EB (required by new legislation) which will happen once systems are updated.
  • Current PUA claimants can certify for week ending Jan 2, 2021 for no interruption in coverage. The new extension laws require additional documentation verification requirements on new claims, and IDES expects to to resume taking new PUA claims from week of Jan 10th, 2021 (or earlier)
  • Claimants will be retroactively caught up on payments for all weeks they are eligible.
  • Claimants currently receiving benefits through the Extended Benefits program must finish all weeks of EB before receiving additional weeks of PEUC.

Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Program – NOW EXPIRED

IDES has now paid out the $300 weekly payment under the LWA program, which provided supplementary payments to eligible unemployment benefits claimants who were unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. The new LWA payment would be in addition to Regular Unemployment Insurance (UI), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) payments currently available to unemployed workers

IDES has updated their systems to process LWA applications and validate eligibility for benefits under this program with payments starting during the week of September 8th. They will be retroactive to the week of August 1st and only available for 6 weeks ($1800 maximum) due to FEMA funding limitations. Payments are being made in batches with the first round covering 3 weeks (up to $900) based on the original FEMA grant. Subsequent weeks will be paid in separate batches or in one additional 3 week lump sum depending on claimant eligible weeks.

There is no new application for LWA. Claimants eligible for LWA (>$100 in existing UI benefits) will automatically receive LWA funds in addition to their weekly benefit amount. Eligible claimants will get the extra $300 supplementary payment at the same time as their unemployment benefits payment. See more on the IDES LWA page.

Note – Due to the $100 minimum weekly benefit (+ dependent allowance) threshold for existing UI benefits, approximately 60,000 Illinois claimants will be denied access to LWA. This is the main reason many unemployed people are not seeing LWA payments.

COVID 19 Enhanced Benefits

Under the CARES act, there are three types of federal unemployment assistance now available:

• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC): provides an additional $600 per week, on top of regular benefits, to all recipients of Unemployment Insurance; retroactive to the week ending April 6, 2020. They will see the additional supplemental income applied to their weekly benefit amount. This increase is available through the week ending July 25, 2020.
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC): provides an additional 13 weeks of Unemployment benefits to all recipients. If you have exhausted regular unemployment benefits, a Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) claim will be filed for you and up to 13 additional weeks of PEUC benefits will be added to your balance.
• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): expands eligibility for individuals who are typically ineligible for
Unemployment benefits, for example independent contractors, and self-employed and “gig” workers. IDES began accepting applications for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program beginning on May 11. Here are the steps to follow to apply:

1. Apply for regular unemployment before you apply for PUA

2. If you applied for regular unemployment and have been denied between April 1, 2019 and today, do not reapply. Go into your regular unemployment account and set up direct deposit for payment.

3. Have your 2019 tax return or proof of income ready and available

4. Be prepared to certify

5. Remember: You must submit a new application for PUA. The two systems are not transferrable.

Failure to provide all the requested information means your claim will have to be manually reviewed and corrected by IDES staff. If IDES is unable to make the corrections, prior to when you certify (request payment), your benefits will be delayed or the amount you receive will be less than it should be. Any information submitted by you to IDES may be verified through computer matching progams in order to determine your eligibility for Unemployment Insurance benefits.​

IDES

Filing a Claim

If you haven’t already applied, you can File for Regular Unemployment Benefits via the IDES page. Note – Do not re-apply for regular unemployment benefits if you are a PUA claimant (contractors, self-employed, etc). Instead file for PUA program benefits.

Within 7-10 days of filing your claim, you will receive a blank debit card and a UI Finding in the mail which will tell you whether you are monetarily eligible for benefits, meaning you have earned sufficient wages in your base period (see tables above).

If your UI Finding says you are not monetarily eligible (weekly benefit amount shows $0), this means that according to reports employers are required to provide IDES of wages paid for services in employment, you were not paid enough wages during your base period to qualify for regular unemployment benefits.

If, during your base period, you did not receive any payments for services that you performed for others (e.g., if you were a sole proprietor), you may apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

Certify or “claim certification” is used to describe how you claim weeks of unemployment and receive payment of benefits if you meet the eligibility requirements. On your assigned day and on a bi-weekly basis, you certify by answering a set of questions.

The best way to certify for payment of benefits is online via the IDES site. These services are available Monday – Friday from 3:00 AM to 7:30PM. 

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201 thoughts on “Illinois (IL) IDES Unemployment and State Benefit Programs – Latest News and Updates After Pandemic Benefits Expiry”

  1. I have weeks of benefits under pua that I did not certify for. It says that the program is expired and says that I may be able to receive the benefits before September 4th if I am eligible. Where you would click to certify for those weeks it is unclickable. It says I’m eligible. It says my account is active. I cannot certify for these weeks. Ides tells me the pua office is closed and suggested I appeal my case. There’s nothing to appeal. I’m eligible and entitled to receive payment for these weeks. Nobody at ides seems to know how to certify me for these weeks so I can receive payment although they are the ones that are supposed to give me the payment so who do I talk to?

    Reply
  2. I’ve since found a local job within walking distance but ides has granted the overpayment but not refunded it and certification weeks they say the federal government has to decide eligibility even though ides already determined the eligibility eligible and I’m told that is why I’m not being paid and issues are on claim and there’s no pua department to answer my questions

    Reply
  3. I am unable to create a ides account to apply for benefits. I have been trying for 3 weeks and the 3 day return phone calls doesn’t help. Those people just say, Hmmm I don’t know why it won’t let you create an account. I have to file for regular to be able to file for the pua. but it wont’ let me and when i go straight to file pua, it says no i have to apply for regular benefits first. Does anybody know when they will close the portal to file pua?

    Reply
  4. But you can’t file a pua claim unless you file a regular claim first. Whether you are self employed or a contractor, etc… How long do I have to file for benefits that i am entitled to? And the system won’t let me create an account. Been trying for weeks.

    Reply
    • Per the IDES Site?

      The last payable week for federal programs (PUA, PEUC, FPUC, and MEUC) was September 4th, 2021.

      Please note that claimants with pending decisions may still be paid retroactively for weeks before September 4th, 2021, if they are later deemed eligible. IDES will also accept PUA applications until October 6th, 2021. However, PUA benefits are only payable retroactively through the week ending September 4th, 2021.

      Reply
      • Thank you Andy. I had been trying to create an account to file for months and it wouldn’t let me. I called, nobody could help me, I drove 2 hours to a local office to be told I had to have an appointment but had tried to call and make one numerous times. So what about a this particular case. I spoke to several others who qualified and who tried like heck to apply and could not. Is there a process to file and approve people who would be eligible but couldn’t apply due to IDES system issues?

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      • I have had an identity issue where it’s caused me 40 some weeks of no benifits cause account was frozen all the way back to April 11 which they say I’m gonna get back pay it’s still not taken care of I’ve sent all documents asked of me it’s been through identity department still nothing I proved everything asked of me why am I not paid yet always a run around I’m loosing my place to live I’m the victim cansomebody help fix this I’ve talked to everybody ides has please help .

        Reply
        • You should contact your local representative or congressman’s office. That’s likely your best way to get some quicker assistance.

  5. Hello. I need some help please nad thank you , so the next time I certify for my unemployment is September 7th 2021, and as everyone knows you certify for the two weeks prior to your certification date. So does that mean I will still receive the extra $300 on September 9th. Because those certification weeks were during the time they were still doing the extra 300 or does that mean I won’t because of the date I certify

    Reply
      • Eneal J Pickens, your qualifications for answering this question please? Do you work for IDES? (I received the $300 enhanced benefits for the week ending August 28th, but not for the week ending September 4th. I had assumed I would get the extra $300 for all weeks through the one ending September 4th, but now, like Jennifer Griego, I’m wondering if those people certifying ON SEPTEMBER 6TH, 7TH OR 8TH are already ‘off’ the FPUC even for that final week ending Sept 4th BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO CERTIFY AFTER THE 4TH. Nowhere amidst all the articles on this subject is that point made clear. And you, EJP, seem to be a random person who just likes answering questions, like those people who hang out at answers.com to give wildly wrong answers just because they like the ‘feeling’ of being knowledgeable. I WOULD appreciate an answer, however, from the article’s author (Andy). (I don’t know if the shortfall was a glitch, as happened twice this year with differing amounts— shortfalls that were subsequently corrected— or the genuine deal. Andy?)

        Reply
        • There is a 1 day delay because of labor day to get your payment. I believe that would be your issue as is mine. If you check the Ides website it will show that it was paid more than likely.

    • I certified on the 7th also and pulled up my payment on ides and they shorted me 300 for the week ending September 4th I was so sure we would get it did this happen to u also? Also it says I have a balance of 3k of eb benefits ending in December does that mean I will still get payments?

      Reply
      • Ever find put an anything?. I still have have a similar balance and like 8 months till my “max out date” or what have you.

        Reply
  6. When you are in a WIA approved school training and you go on Christmas break and it all you on the certifying page did you attend school? Do you say no because you’re not at the time, but will that cause your benefits to stop? Little confused on what to do I know it is a while before Christmas break but wanted to get a jump on what to do for that. Also, are they stopping the extra benefit pay to the Illinoisans going to school and are exempt from working because of going to school full time?

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  7. In this article, the statement in the FILING A CLAIM section is misleading. PUA is for contractors, self-employed, etc. Therefore, you should not file for regular UI if you are not a contractor, self employed, etc.; you should instead file for PUA. If you did file for regular UI and were denied, it is either because you are a contractor, self employed, etc. and therefor should file for PUA because you don’t qualify for regular UI, or it is because of some issue with your employment history (as non-contractor, non-self employed, etc.).

    Reply
      • But you can’t file a pua claim unless you file a regular claim first. Whether you are self employed or a contractor, etc… How long do I have to file for benefits that i am entitled to? And the system won’t let me create an account. Been trying for weeks.

        Reply
  8. I’ve not recieved benefits since April 1st I’ve certified every week I’ve had really no help from IDES I’ve been hung up on I was issued a overpayment and repaid it when I shouldn’t of had it in first place now ides explanation is that it’s my fault and no other reason given I’ve given all documents and I see elegabilty re deturmed elegable but still a pending issue and no payment I can’t return to work because I’m broker than ever loosing home soon and can’t get a straight bit of help but not to mention some of documents shoe as future like I recieve it and the issue on downloaded correspondence is days or months ahead

    Reply
  9. Hi I didn’t receive my extra 300 boost this week and as far as I know Illinois is not part of the 33 states

    Reply
  10. I recieved a letter stating that my benefits were cancelled because i could not identify myself and i have to repay what i did recieve. I dont understand what that means.

    Reply
    • It means you did not sufficiently verify your identity to claim benefits. Did you miss any notifications from IDES to provide additional documentation or go through their ID check process? You will need to call an agent to resolve this.

      Reply
    • If you were receiving benefits but those stopped and there is an issue of ‘identity’, it may be that your identity was stolen. You will certainly need to speak with a rep.

      Reply
  11. Hello everyone. I jus5 wanted inform everyone of update. In Illinois 6 weeks ago a call center rep from ides said I exhausted my benefits and that’s it. She had no answers. I got ahold my local state rep. He reached out to ides and got an actual ides rep call me and finally added the extensions to my PEUC program till Sep 4. Do not let ides call center person tell you that your exhausted your claim and that’s it. You need get hold of an actual ides worker they have to manually add your claim on. Hope this helps.

    Reply
  12. It’s been seven weeks since my last payment(3-26) I’ve continued to certify and wait patiently. I have read news articles and blogs about Illinois being behind by hundreds of thousands of claims. I wish everyone could have had their extensions automatically added but it’s the IDES so my expectations are very low like all Illinois state government agencies.

    Reply
  13. I have not received my unemployment benefit for the last 6 weeks. On Monday, April 19th, 2021 it will be 8 weeks. When unemployment did call me on March 26th, 2021 the representative said that there was a glitch in the system that did not automatically activate me personally and thousands of others into the new program. The representative said that it would be fixed and I should get all my pay and back pay within a couple of weeks (2). We are now working on the third week and still nothing. I have had my number in the que for almost two weeks now and no call back. When will this program in Illinois be fixed. I am looking for a job, maybe I can help IDES figure it out.
    Are there any explanations as to why this is taking so long?

    Reply
    • I’m in the exact same situation so frustrating. I can’t even buy food or pay my bills because if the “delay and glitch”. This is ridiculous

      Reply
  14. Dear Andy,

    So I got a call from IDES today. It took about 2 weeks for the call back. I asked about the notice of determination from March 3rd, 2021 referring to the inelegibility for benefits due to the HUP (high unemployment period) ending in Illinois still being on my file. The person I spoke to didn’t know the answer and said she’d check with her supervisor so I waited and finally she just read back the notice to me and said I should fax or mail in the appeal letter asap. I don’t think she got clarification from a supervisor as I asked her numerous questions regarding the American Rescue Plan Act repealing or negating the HUP issue ending in Illinois, the fact I have gotten paid for the last 2 weeks, and the fact that I had gotten information from many people not to appeal this determination. She said no you need to appeal if you want to continue to get benefits. I’m so damn confused now I don’t know what to do. I told her that a lot of people must be misinformed as to what to do and that they needed to appeal this and she said oh yes a lot people don’t know about this. ???

    Reply
    • The ARP didn’t repeal HUP. That is tied to the states unemployment rate being above a certain level and IL rate fell below the required level so HUP was lowered. See the news release below. You should however be able to PUA or PEUC extended weeks now under ARP.

      “According to unemployment data published by the federal government, Illinois’ unemployment rate is now below the threshold for the state’s High Unemployment Period (HUP) to be active, and individuals no longer qualify for additional weeks of benefits provided during by HUP. Under federal law, when a state is in the HUP, there are seven additional weeks added to PUA eligibility, as well as seven additional weeks added to Extended Benefits (EB) eligibility under state law. As a result of Illinois’ unemployment rate dropping, under state and federal law, the seven additional weeks for both programs are no longer available.”

      Reply
  15. If you work part time again and make over what you unemployment is for that week, can you lose your unemployment all together even if it’s only for a week here and there or will you only lose it for that certification period?

    Reply
    • Yes you can lose UI benefits if your wages are above a certain level for a given period. See this article for more -https://savingtoinvest.com/part-time-workers-eligible-for-partial-unemployment-compensation-will-qualify-for-the-600-weekly-covid-19-fpuc-stimulus-payment/

      Reply
  16. i have no idea whats going on ive exhasted my regular ui benefits and ive applied for pua and its been saying my determination for elegiability is still pending after 12 business days and they even let me certify under pua?

    Reply
    • I am on PUA and had received a notice of determination stating I’m no longer elegible due to the HUP, high unemployment period, ending in Illinois and benefits no longer available starting week of 2/21/2021.
      It is causing a pending issue in my file preventing payments and it says I have until 4/2/2021 to appeal. Should I appeal this or will it be wiped away because of the new American Rescue Plan Act? This is all so complicated and confusing as I also received a letter of monetary determination stating that I am elegible and have money in my account beginning 3/14/2021 until 9/4/2021.
      What to do ?

      Reply
      • I am in the same situation (if it provides any comfort). My PUA payments were stopped because of the same reason (I, too, live in IL).
        I got assurances from more than one source that the new Relief bill WILL extend my PUA eligibility from 50 weeks (in IL) to 75 weeks.
        “Magically” (I did not do anything to bring this about), one day in recent weeks, my IDES account showed that “extension” of PUA benefits…e.g., that my account was “Active,” that I had about a $5,000 balance in it, and 25 more weeks of payments…yet since that info showed up, my debit card (which is used by IDES to give me weekly payments of benefits) still shows zero balance.
        Then, a couple days ago, I received a Reconsidered PUA Finding (totally confusing, like all IDES communications), confirming that additional balance, but stating that “I will be required to submit proof of self-employment, but CONTRADICTING that statement by further saying (in so many words) that if I have already provided this (which I did, via my 2019 tax return, submitted to IDES almost a year ago, when I first applied for PUA), “you do not need to provide additional information.”
        I went through a similar frustration with IDES when Trump signed the other Stimulus bill….waiting TWO MONTHS, when my PUA payments “magically” one day started to come through….so I am HOPING the same thing will happen with this latest relief bill and extension of PUA benefits…..that the most screwed up government organization in history WILL finally get its act together and start making my benefit payments once again.
        Will appreciate confirmation or comments by Andy and anyone else in IL who is experiencing a similar situation

        Reply
        • Omg that’s my problem described better than I could it’s been april first since I’ve had income

      • I would keep Certifying. The PUA Payments were released by IDES for ARP.
        I got paid for the week ending 03/20/2021 but not for the 2 weeks before. My benefits were exhausted for those two weeks

        Reply
        • Same Case here. Got paid for week ending 3/20 but before that two weeks still showing pending and there is no payment ID for those two weeks.

    • If you qualified for UI as evidenced by receiving those benefits through that Program, then you apparently don’t qualify for PUA because PUA is only for contractors, self employed, etc. You should have bee rejected for PUA straightway; I don’t see any purpose of a ‘pending’ situation. How do you certify for PUA while your eligibility for PUA is pending? Where do you see that ‘pending’ notification?

      Reply
  17. Patricia i filed my unemployment was approved then denied so i filed for the pua and when i sent my identification and ss number i sent it ides not pua so the man that called me Sunday said that’s all i needed to do i was to send it to the pua claimant Dept. with the right claimant number because there are two claim numbers and fax numbers to fax mail or email

    Reply

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