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.

Get the latest money, tax and stimulus news directly in your inbox

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.

Get the latest money, tax and stimulus news directly in your inbox

[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. 

Subscribe via email or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube to get the latest news and updates

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

  1. IDES has published a detailed update on the IDES site. While this is reassuring in that it indicates they are working on the varied issues, what’s lacking is information about WHEN they expect to have all this done… and when claimants whose various program benefits have expired can expect payments again.

    Reply
    • Wife got all back due IL state unemployment + $300 federal weekly boost on 2/4.

      Exception: she did not receive a $300 federal supplement for week ending 12/26, though. I think we just have to write that off to the late signing of the extension by the former president.

      Reply
    • I received a letter on March 27th stating that after one year there was no further unemployment programs that were available. Based on the information provided on the IDES website, I continued to certify on April 6th, a few days later another letter was sent saying that I was possibly ineligible for those weeks. Finally received a call back from IDES on Saturday April 11, woman said I did not need to do anything and that my claim would be automatically enrolled for the extended benefits. I certified on Tuesday April 20, but still have no received any money as of today. Four weeks with no benefits. I did read the updated information on the IDES Website, cautiously optimistic, but I thought the phone call back would have rectified my situation.

      Reply
  2. I was able to certify again, today, finally. But after certifying for the weeks I missed since the PUA was exhausted on Dec. 26th, I got this message on the portal for IDES. This makes no sense whatsoever.

    “If you exhausted PUA prior to December 26, 2020, you are eligible to receive additional weeks of PUA beginning the week of December 27, 2020. You are not eligible to receive benefits for the weeks after you exhausted through December 26, 2020; however, you must certify for those weeks you are not eligible for in order to certify for eligible weeks beginning with the week of December 27, 2020.”

    Reply
  3. Everything ran out 12/9. I’ve continued to certify according to the IDES website and I’ve stayed patient and still nothing. I scheduled a callback which I got, though all they could tell me is to keep checking the website and certifying. Once IDES updates their computers can I expect to receive ANYTHING?

    Reply
    • Those who had exhausted their benefits prior to December 27th 2020, 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. They will send updates and instructions for people to reactivate their claims. Due to the need for additional income proof documentation and identity checks this is taking longer than expected in most states

      Reply
    • My wife is in similar situation. Her 26-week of standard benefits ran out before 12/27.
      Last payment received was for one week on January 2. At that time she received a notice that benefits had run out and she would be notified within 7 days about getting on EB. She continues to certify and has received no communications or additional payment whatsoever. The news media needs to put pressure on IDES to get this done.

      Reply
      • I was in the same situation…my PUA benefits were exhausted in mid-December…the weekly certification section of my IDES weekly certification form “disappeared” from the form at that time, so I could not certify any longer….my account was marked “Exhausted,” and I, like many of you went to the IDES web site daily for SIX WEEKS and found no further information or guidance.
        The, yesterday, a “miracle” happened, which should give all of you some encouragement. When I went to my weekly IDES certification form, without DOING ANYTHING ELSE, I found that my account had changed to ACTIVE….and there 6 weeks that I missed my benefits since mid-December that I could ACTUALLY CERTIFY FOR…which I did, and after each week, received a “Confirmation” that the certification for those weeks was “successful.” So there is “hope” for all of you…just keep checking your weekly IDES certification form daily, and you probably WILL one day see that your account is active again!

        Reply
        • Thanks for this. Our situation is similar yet different. Wife was not on PUA, rather regular unemployment. All along she has been able to certify, even the whole month of January. Yet what we receive is a only a Notice of Benefits which shows maximum benefit exhausted and no payment. Hopefully they are getting close to getting this fixed.

  4. From Lana. Hi, Diana. Question to you. I exhausted my regular n pecu also. Should I reopen re-file my case for Regular UI Benefits? (my last day will be on February,2). Thanks.

    Reply
    • Wait for instructions from IDES once they update their systems to process new claims. You may have to reapply for regular UI if your benefit year has ended and a new one started after your claim expires.

      Reply
      • Is the updating of the system in IDES the cause for such a huge delay in processing of a first-time regular UI claim, do you know? I filed on February 24th, been in the queue for a call back since March 9. I can find no information anywhere online as to the reason for such a delay, or if there even is a reason. Until your comment here, it’s appeared as though the delay in my case was an aberration. If I’m to be denied benefits, I’d like to pursue my appeal process and/or the PUA application. Being stuck in this holding pattern, without a known reason, is maddening. Anyway, thanks in advance for any insight you may (or may not) have!

        Reply
  5. I got and ceritify $198 per week for PUA CLAIM. . i never got any regular payment since week ended December 19, 2020 although it show there is a balance of $198. they keep allow me to certify and yet the week ended JANUARY 2, 2021 I NEVER GOT ANY WEEK PUA CLAIM AND plus the $300.0p. do i am eligible to get $300.00. i submitted the requirements verifying documents and i wonder why until now there is no payment. it said in my record pending. why do you mean that???

    Reply
    • I am having the same issues you are having. I haven’t heard anything from IDES. I hope we will be receiving the money that is currently still pending.

      Reply
      • IDES is only paying active claimants (those who have weeks left to certify). They are still updating their systems to cover PUA and PEUC payments under the 11 week extension. Once that it is done they are 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.

        Reply
        • Andy, my PUA benefits were exhausted in mid-December, 2020. I see many articles that I am SUPPOSED TO continue my weekly IDES certifications in order to receive the new $300 FPUC under the recently signed Stimulus Bill, but when my benefits were exhausted, the section on the IDES weekly certification form that ALLOWED me to certify for that week DISAPPEARED, so I CAN’T certify any longer. Comments and advice?

        • I was active on my state’s PEUC 13 weeks. I had u more weeks of PEUC to go when it ended in Dec. The way my state handled it was to pay me in lump sum for the 7 weeks. Now I am very concerned that I won’t be getting the extension, as I am getting a message that I am not eligible for PEUC and I now have 4 weekly claims that are just sitting there. My state just started paying the extension this week. Thank you so much in advance.

  6. my friend was in IN A PUA CLAIM sometime in Chicago, AND her CERTIFY was ACCEPTED, AND FOR THE LAST 2 WEEKS OF DECEMBER, 2020, She WAS NOT PAID THE REGULAR MONTHLY PUA AND AS WELL AS JANUARY, 2021 ENDED 1/02/2021. She DID CERTIFY and accepted for the week ENDED DECEMBER 19, 2020 AND THAT TIME she HAD A BALANCE OF $198. we SEND EMAIL AND EVEN she CALLED AND she was WAITING FOR THE CALLS. IT SHOWED PENDING. WHAT IS THAT? She SEND her ILLINOIS STATE ID, DRIVER LICENSE AS WELL AS SOCIAL secuirty FOR THEIR online REQUIREMENTS. I wonder if ides GOT IT. Please pardon if we typed in a big caps. The keyboard had a little problem.

    Reply
    • 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
  7. that wat happen to me the gave me my regular benfits plus a extra 25 bucks to make it a full week but my end date for my last cerfity was jan 2 an i didn t get the 300 wat do i do my benfits are exhasted or will they tranfer me to eb or am i done.any advice

    Reply
    • No u don’t have to do anything it’s automatic and they started paying the 300 boost today in Illinois, i’m in Illinois also and also on PUA and I got mine at like 430 today :) goodluck u will have it anytime if u don’t already

      Reply
      • Thanks Nayar for sharing/confirming this. I have updated article to reflect this including some twitter updates from IDES.

        Reply
      • I haven’t got a single pay since December 21.. my account says exhausted and 0 balance. I haven’t received anything since.. no extra 300 and I can’t cerdify anymore… They haven’t gave me anything.. what’s going on

        Reply
    • I don’t if my unemployment has stopped but it said that I have 4 more pending tell me what happens next and do I qualify for extra 300 dollars a week

      Reply
    • I have the same exact issue. Are you able to at least certify? My PUAis exhausted I thought there was an extension. The rumor is they are still setting up the system. Did you hear anything were you able to certify?

      Reply
  8. Yes john you will get it that following monday after that friday holiday, that’s how they did for the Christmas and Thanksgiving holiday and they came that monday.so you should be good monday morning.

    Reply
    • I get $198 a week for pua In illinois and it says she has one week remaining and she got the 300 plus the 198 this week but I am worried after next week if she is going to get the 300 a week until March? Usually it will update the balance but it says only 198 left and one week remaining. Do u know I has to do anything else after next week or will it automatically be put on my account

      Reply
      • I have the same exact issue. Are you able to at least certify? My PUAis exhausted I thought there was an extension. The rumor is they are still setting up the system. Did you hear anything were you able to certify?

        Reply
  9. I just recently got my first week of retroactive back pay from first week of May. $600 plus my what my regular unemployment was then. When can I expect the other 7 weeks of back pay and will it be in one lump sum?

    Reply
    • I have not received not 1 payment owned 46 weeks of back pay. I’m exhausted trying to get contact with a live IDES rep. I’m afraid I’m not going to get it before December 26 its still pending and all my weeks are certified.

      Reply
      • Me 2 i have been waiting on some type of contact with someone from ides. I have went beyond this i called the governour I got emails and everything from the governour where he said that he would take care of it and still havent heard anything.

        Reply
    • Mr Collis, what state are you drawing in? If it’s Illinois, how did you get the retro back pay? IDES told me today that there is no retro pay for the federal $600. I’m totally confused about it all. And now I have a new claim that I should have filed since end of November but could not do it prior to contacting IDES. Finally Igot a call back from them today and they know 100% that I couldn’t file for the 3 weeks I was on their call back log due to not being able to reach a human. But was told that my benefits will start as of date that I was able to file ( today when ides filed it for me). No back pay at all and none of this lost time is my fault, it’s theirs.

      Reply
  10. I have a general question – maybe someone can answer. I collected unemployment in Missouri for two months in the spring after being laid off from the restaurant I worked at in Missouri. I was fortunate enough to return to work in late May for the same company but in an Illinois location. Once again I am laid off and needed to file for unemployment. I submitted the claim with Illinois since this is where I was presently working. Will my unemployment benefits be paid through Illinois or will they transfer the claim to Missouri since I have only worked in Illinois for five months? This is so confusing to me!

    Reply
  11. Does anyone know if payments are being delayed due to the federal holiday (Veterans Day)? I did not receive my payment today. I checked in on Wednesday systems states they received it. Just wondering if there are some delays or glitches in payment.

    Reply
    • I was wondering the same , I certified Tuesday and still nothing , nothing on my payment history either this has me we happened

      Reply
  12. I lost my job (not pandemic related) 2/18/2020 and didn’t file right away. When I did file, I wasn’t able to submit the claim application due to system crashes. I finally was able to do so recently but they are using the date i filed as my start date of benefits. It is supposed to be retroactive, but not sure they will allow that due to it being before mid-march when everyting started happening. I cant get anyone at IDES, waiting on a call back.
    Does anyone know anything about this? Will they retro my claim once I talk to someone?

    Reply
  13. John I exhausted my regular n pecu also, I called n they finally returned my call. They set me up for Pua, then I got on line n filed n certified…took me awhile to figure out but I finally got it going, they sent me a debit card, so I new I just had to certify, n its weekly on line. I hope this helps..its frustrating for sure don’t give up!

    Reply
  14. I’m on my 11th week of PUI, I’m Eligible for the LWA and have received two LWA payments for 3 weeks. I’m a little confused to how this works since the site doesn’t do well with explaining. I was expecting the LWA to continue till the end of December like the site said. I thought I would get another LWA payment this check on oct 7th but I didn’t receive it. They have been coming in on separate days so it makes it all that more confusing because I don’t know if I should wait a couple days and expect in my account or if I received it all already. If someone can help me I would really appreciate it.

    Reply
    • LWA is being Paid for six weeks. Illinois has already ran out of the Funds.
      But they will pay Six Weeks only.

      Reply
  15. Anyone having issues certifying. I am on my 20th week of unemployment. The last time I was allowed to certify was Tuesday, Sept 15th. I received my regular unemployment pay on 9/2, then received 3 payments from fema $300 pay $900 on 9/10, certified on 9/15, received 2 more weeks of female pay, $600. Tried to certify on 9/29, and it told ne I could not certify and recommended calling the IDES #. I have received nothing since, and waiting for callback since last week, and realize that could take weeks. Anyone else have similar experience. Please let me know. Thanks.

    Reply
  16. When will i get my lwa i was told i will get ine and have not got a dime help all they can tell me is keep checking my card ive doing that cent the17of sep still no money o. My card frim the lwa helppppppoo

    Reply
  17. I got a letter stating I will get the p e e u c k mint but when I certified Monday I checked today which is Tuesday and I only have a pending amount for $130 which is my regular unemployment so why didn’t they add the extra money on there and I got the letter saying I was eligible and even gave me a day to certify so should I call

    Reply
  18. Hi everyone. I just checked my payment history and received the 2nd round of lwa 3 weeks and 2 weeks regular pay. If you are waiting to know about the 2nd round, you will get it. Not sure if it worked out that I got both payments on the same day and that’ll be the case for all but you will get it. F.y.i. you can check payment history all day, it doesnt change. It updates at midnite once a day and that’s it. Best bet is to check at midnite or when you wake up. Bless to all.

    Reply
    • 6 weeks. Only 3 weeks are initially approved, with the following 3 weeks approved and paid on week by week basis. Retroactive payments may be done in a lump sum.

      Reply
      • Ok I received 3 weeks already yesterday when can I expect the next 3 weeks and am I guaranteed to get 3 more weeks

        Reply
        • I received 4 weeks 9/9/2020 and haven’t received anything else, wondering if we are going to get the other2 weeks, it’s almost the middle of October, it’s not looking promising…

        • I received 4 weeks 9/9/2020 and haven’t received anything else, wondering if we are going to get the other2 weeks, it’s almost the middle of October, it’s not looking promising…

      • Hi. I lost my job back in Feb and didn’t file UI until april( hoping to return to work) was denied. Was approved PUA in may received first payment in June. Is my PUA able to be back-dated to when I originally filed my UI claim to the actual first week I received a payment? If so how do I go about getting this done? Thank you so much for any advice or help.

        Reply
  19. I own my own business and applied for IDES after learning about PUA. I was approved, thankfully without any glitches or delays. I am eligible for the additional $300 since I meet the requirements in terms of what I receive. The additional payment was suppose to have started the week of Sept 13th, but I didn’t receive anything. I file my certifications on Tuesday of every week. I tried calling IDES and was informed of this new callback system they implemented. Left my information and am waiting for a callback. I’m finding out it could take several days for them to return my call. This is unacceptable. No one is going to give you several days/weeks to pay for utilities. mortgage, rent and so forth. You have to pay for these things by the due date. Why can’t IDES speed up the process so no one has to wait more that a day or two? It’s easy when you’re getting payed, to forget that the people who are calling and waiting are not! IDES updated their systems and supposedly hired something like an extra 150 people to handle claims, but the wait keeps getting longer rather than shorter. I’ve always been able to depend on myself and have never ever asked for help from anyone. It’s frustrating, stressful, demeaning, painful, depressing and hopeless. Instead of finding the help you need with dignity, you find a system that is indifferent to your needs.

    Reply
  20. My regular unemployment benefits in Illinois is set to expire the original 26 weeks very soon. Does the extra 13 weeks of PEUC kick in automatically, or so I have to file for this? Many articles say that it’s supposed to pick up automatically, but I’m worried. Can anybody who has exhausted their 26 weeks answer on this? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Yes they switch automatically if your unemployment is specifically because of the Covid I can’t go back until my employer allows me too because only essential employment are there which are plant maintenance 5 guys

      Reply
      • Thank you for the info as I am approaching my 26th week of unemployment. Will I continue to file bi-weekly or are you expected to file each week for the additional 13 weeks of PEUC?

        Reply
        • Tina, I have the same question as you do. I have not been able to confirm if I should continue to certify on a bi-weekly basis as I did with regular UI, or if I need to certify weekly (on my assigned day) for the PEUC.

        • I had a friend reach the end of the standard benefit period. She was automatically enrolled for the additional weeks and was sent a letter confirming this. She certified on her regular dates and was told to continue as before when she received a call back from IDES. So frustrating that this is not addressed on the IDES website when so many people are reaching this point.

  21. I am currently receving PUA benefits at $198.00 a week.
    Will I get LWA payment of $300 a week exta payment?
    If yes; Did Illinois start making these payments. I have not recevied anything extra yet.

    Reply
    • Yes Nayar, Its the same with me. The lady from IDEs talked to me yesterday on my call back and told me that if you are approved, it should hit your bank account anytime this week, if you’re on automatic bank deposit. Hope this helps.

      Reply
        • No not yet, the lady at IDES has asked me to keep checking my account the whole week for the deposit,, but a few people have received $255 × # of weeks. I think they are withholding taxes.

        • Hello Romina:

          I just checked my Payment History. It is saying that the LWA Payments were made but they have not shown up in the Bank.
          I am not sure when I will see that payment in the Bank.
          Thank you for your input.

        • Call them and leave a message. They will call you back. However, some people have said that they received the money after a week. You can leavea message. They call you back in 10 to15 days, which means that you’ll get the money before your call. This has happened to most people in IL

        • Romina:

          The $300 a week LWA Payment still is not in the Bank yet. When I was looking yesterday it did say that they are paying the LWA but today the Payment History page is gone. Technical issues. I don’t know when I might see the Payment

      • Hi Romina, did you receive your weekly benefits from PUA? did you receive your LWA payment yet i’m on PUA and i haven’t received my LWA benefit , are they paying the LWA on different days than our regular benefit ?

        Reply
      • Thank You Romina.

        So that means I would get the $300 a week if I am already approved for PUA. I tried calling, No One had called me back yet

        Reply
        • Nayarji they take 2 to 3 weeks to call you back, once you leave a message you are in line and they call you back. Given your situation if already approved you will see they money on the date you generally get paid this week. This is the information I got from IDES yesterday.

        • Thank You Romina:

          I did receive Last Week’s Payment today. I did get $198 but not the $300.

    • Yes, I believe so… I recieved $255 x # weeks just a days ago. I had the taxes taken out so the $300 payment is now being distributed. Hope that info helps??

      Reply
    • Nayar, my funds of $1800 will be cleared from my bank on Monday. Keep checking your email. You will get a detailed one for LWA from IDES. It will give you the full detail. Then go back to your bank account. It will tell you that it is pending, because the bank does check and verify with the DOH for genuineness before releasing the funds to you. It takes a total of 3 days.
      Hope this helps.

      Reply
        • Congrats Nayyar, if initially you asked for withholding of taxes you get $255 or else you get a lump sum of $1800 all at once.
          Anyways good luck with the next phase if we get any in the future.

        • Hello what State are you in? What date did you get the full amount of 1800
          I’m in IL and I only received 900 in the middle of Sept and havent received my other 3 weeks they owe me 900 more. Does anyone know If I will get the rest . It’s Oct 7 am I not getting the rest.

        • I am in ILLINOIS.

          I got the Payment on 09/21/2020 posted to my Bank Account

          09/21/20 Deposit ACHCREDIT IDES PAYMENTS 1,530.00

      • Yes.
        Illinois have been paying for LWA. They are only paying for 6 weeks.
        You will get one lump sum payment of $1800 -Taxes ( If Elected ). There might be another reason as to why you have not gotten it.
        Reason being Illinois running out of LWA Funds.

        Reply
  22. Hi, my name is shavon and I certified this past Tuesday which was September 8th for Regular unemployment and I received my regular pay September 9th..Ok now my weeks ended on September 5th the (LWA) didn’t start to September 6th Monday was a Holiday so I was wondering do I qualify for the (LWA) And yes I receive over $100 from unemployment so if I didn’t receive it with last weeks pay will I receive it on or by my next certification date which is September 22nd?? Please help!! How is other people receiving their retroactive pay last week and i didn’t?

    Reply
  23. When will Illinois receive the LWA/ $300 increase? The tracker website says the pay date was 09/09/20. When will we actually see this money in our bank accounts?

    Reply
  24. When will Illinois receive the LWA benefits?? The tracker says the playdate was 09/09/2020. When will we receive this money in our bank accounts (LWA: $300 increase)

    Reply
  25. Hello I still have gotten the 300 and I get over 100 a week my landlord wants me to move cause she think I lying I can’t go to work because I have school age children I’m on my way to being homeless

    Reply
    • You received the LWA / $300 benefits already??
      And the Unemployment office cannot assist with landlord/tenant issues. Illinois has funds for renters and homeowners for Pandemic Housing Financial Assistance, I believe it’s for ppl who are behind on rent or mortgage.

      Reply
  26. @John k after your regular benefits expires Did you automatically start receiving pua? How long after did it take and do you certify on the same site and days with same info from Ides or you have to create one and will they let you know?

    Reply
    • You have to apply on the PUA website which is different than the IDES website. You have to apply, provide any requested documentation and wait about 2 weeks to be approved if all is well with your claim.

      Reply
  27. I I’m just found out in getting back pay for 6 weeks. Do you know how in it take to come in and will I see it in the payment history portal on their website?

    Reply
      • Hi
        I Just got a callback from ides today, the lady said that if it says lwa will hit week of September 13, it means that you are approved and the funds will hit anytime this week. She says you have to check you account everyday if you’re on direct deposit. Mine does have a disclaimer at the top of my ides pua submission page. Wait and watch.

        Reply
        • Thank you for such a speedy response I haven’t checked my account today so I’ll do that now and keep an eye out but I did just read an article that Trump is going to provide another executive order for unemployment benefits if congress doesn’t do something about a new deal it was on Fox News article so I think we might be ok either way

        • Correct. I heard about that too. We’ll have to keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. Daniel, be positive stay positive.

    • Hi. How did you get you claim back-dated? I filed UI in April didnt get PUA till june. Do you know if that gets back-dated to the original day I filed UI? Or any help on who to call or email or papers to download or any info be greatly appreciated. If you dont know that’s fine thank you for helping. Have a great day

      Reply
  28. When all this first happened it was last week my unemployment ran out. So i called in the next 4 weeks and certified and i got nothing until may . Do I get back pay for this ? I am still unemployed and now only get 149.00 every two weeks. That doesn’t do anything for me.

    Reply
    • Did your pua automatically start after your benefits funds expired? Do you go to same site to certify and will an account be made based off ides login info or you have to make your own? And how long after funds expired did it take to get pua?

      Reply
      • They automatically re evaluate your account. Please remember that pua lwa is processed separately. This is what I was told by ides in a phone call today. There are separate letters under correspondence at their end they go through with you
        answering your questions as they read them.

        Reply
  29. I been laid off sense April 9weeks an totally just got approved for regular benefits trying to firgue out how can I get my back pay

    Reply
    • Call an agent and ensure you have certified for all weeks you are eligible. Yo have a huge amount of retroactive pay due to you.

      Reply
    • If you set up an account you should be able to go in and see your records. Then you can check to be sure you have correctly applied for the time you were off work.

      Reply
  30. Please help! I believe i have exhausted my 26 weeks… My last deposit had one full paid week and the last week was 33 dollars net benefit. Seems about the 26 week mark…my question is how do i apply for the extended 13 week benefits? I thought it would apply automatically and i have looked it up countless times and cant find any answers. Everywhere it says we are getting the extra 13 weeks but dosnt state how or what needs to be done.

    Reply
  31. Hi After review they have taken away my dependent allowance, and have just changed the amount in the system. I have left a message and am in line to hear from them . Also, IL has not even approached FEMA for the added FPUA extension. Does anybody know what’s going on with that too?

    Reply
  32. I need to speak with someone about my backpay seeing i was told I couldn’t get it unless I stopped all my benefits. My last payday was February 27th when I applied was told I qualified a half dozen times even given the exact amount I’d receive and have proof as they made me fax my check stubs April 1st. So I am owed 3 months including the $600 a week which has put me horribly in debt not to mention interest, missing meds, I’ve had 3 seizures cuz im so stressed as well as not receiving any other benefits such as fkr food medical and what ever we qualify for. Can someone from IDES please respond because I need the money more than you could imagine. Thanks for ur time as long as I get a response because the website won’t let me on and so far all but one person I’ve spoken with after over a thousand calls to ides has done nothing but lied.

    Reply
  33. I lost my job in March due to Covid. I have been getting my unemployment from IDES every 2 weeks, however I have only been getting an extra $600, not $1200 every 2 weeks? Now my bi-weekly payment has been reduced $600. How can I get the extra $1200 each month that I should have bern getting? I cannot get a live person on the phone to talk to!

    Reply
  34. I filed for pua on 7/13 and says im eligible but is still saying pending issues. I backdated my account to 4/5 so i have certified for 15 weeks. How long will tjis pending issues last or what should i do?

    Reply
    • I applied PUA July 13 as well. Identity verification still pending. Left my info on call back number, took 2.5 weeks for a call back. CS rep couldn’t help me!! Was useless, she only repeated what I already was able to view from account. **This doesn’t answer your question but just letting you know how long I’ve been waiting. CS also told me the process should take up to 14 days but it could be 30 days OR MORE. Very disappointing process cs reps calling back & not equipped to help.

      Reply
  35. Can anybody please help me my girlfriend file for PUA and it says eligible and it says pending issue and the issue is identity verification adjudication she uploaded her Social Security card And her drivers license does anybody know what do we have to do do we just wait if you can please help thank you God bless

    Reply
    • Unfortunately there is no help. Very very disappointing you must sit & wait. I’ve been waiting with same ‘identity’ issue since 7/13. Took 2.5 weeks for a call back and rep was of no help at all. In fact I had more information by just reading my own online account!! Sorry. I’ve tried calling, faxing, emailing for help and got nothing.

      Reply
    • Yes mine said the same exact thing and I just had to wait for unemployment to call me and I explained to them I sent it in twice and they said I didn’t he got his supervisor and he said yes she did send it in about 3 weeks later I got a pretty good chunk of back pay all at once

      Reply
    • Jesse tan, after I submitted mine I got all my back pay randomly like on a Monday eve, about a week later(after submitting I’d verification) no notifications saying im getting it, no email nothing, just bam a deposit :) I hope this helps , just be patient and u will get it literally anytime, now ucan just sit back and relax and not stress about it atall bcuz next step is getting a very well needed deposit :). Best of luck to you!!!

      Reply
    • Jesse i was just going through the same thing he unemployment and pua are two different claim numbers and fax numbers i waited almost 3 weeks to get a call back and he said everything looked good just send my identification and ss card and claimant number

      Reply
  36. I am back to work on a limited part time basis earning less than $275. a week and they are saying now I earn too much $ to qualify for unemployment. I am working less than 20 hours a week. What is the maximum you can earn and still collect?

    Reply
  37. I was laid off march 20th due to covid and applied for unemployment benefits right away. I received my UI in the end of April or early May though my first certification date was 4/14 and the letter was dated 4/22. I had tried every Tuesday from when I received the letter stating I had exhausted my regular benefits but was eligible for the pandemic benefits. I called and tried online, I just kept getting a message saying I was ineligible and to call an 800 number – I did that and it was always just a busy signal. I have tried to email them to find out what to do. My state benefits were automatically renewed and then taken away after the first time I was finally able to certify. I received 7 letters so far from IDES saying I am eligible for peuc benefits, I have no income reported to ides since 6.19.19 which is wrong. I also am trying to figure out how to get the back benefits I was approved for the extra $600 a week plus the pandemic benefits but none of the offices in the city are open and I have had no luck with getting a person. I am going to appeal their findings that I am not eligible for state benefits as I have proof of income but even still I am beyond confused because I keep getting letters from IDES with new findings but all stating I was eligible for PEUC benefits with the first letter stating this dated 4/22/20 though my call in date was 4/14/20. If anyone has any way to get in touch with a real live human I would appreciate any advice. It is getting to the point where I haven’t gotten anything from the feds as far as the stimulus checks (I did just file my 2019 tax return) and there was a note saying I should receive that as soon as my return is processed. I really need help with talking to a human – this is getting really confusing and as I said I keep getting different letters in the mail making it seem like I have applied for benefits multiple times which I did not. I applied in march, was approved for the peuc benefits but couldn’t get through due to the heavy call volumes and there was no info on the website specifically for the peuc benefits – now there is a different section but I keep getting kicked out of that because my ides website login info doesn’t work and it says I don’t have permission to change password. I looked at the federal cares act site and they say each state will pay retroactive benefits but nobody knows unless someone read one of my many emails to the ides email address and saw the several letters I attached showing I should have received these benefits. thank you all for any advice…

    Reply
    • I took advantage of this new strategy and was able to speak with someone 2 weeks after placing my telephone number ” in line”.
      “This new model will be in effect for the following call centers: Claimant Services Center (800.244.5631), IllinoisJobLink.com (877.342.7533), Benefit Payment Control (800.814.0513) and Employer Hotline (800.247.4984). What this means to you is that rather than wait on hold or call multiple times, you will receive a call when you are next in line without losing your place.”

      I hope this helps!

      Reply
  38. Question about IDES WBA, mine is less without dependent but more with dependent, does that qualify me for the receive the federal $600 IDES?
    The message when certifying I did not qualify. Waiting for a call back from IDES, just wondering if anyone else is going through this.
    Thanks, Chris

    Reply
  39. If you go to the IBES il unemployment website – individual- help or documents – there are two forms to request back pay- I used them haven’t heard or received anything yet but maybe it will work

    Reply
    • I have sent in both the request for retroactive benefits as I was approved for pandemic benefits in April, my first call in date was supposed to be april 14th but I never got the UI until the last week of April in the mail and it was dated 4/22/20 but my first call in date was before that. I applied for unemployment as soon as I got laid off in March and once I finally got the UI in the mail I tried to certify every Tuesday and couldn’t get through on the phone or online, then I would try Thursday and always get the same message – you do not qualify for benefits – call this number – called the number it was always busy. I sent in the form with proof I was approved for PEUC benefits including that extra $600 per week starting in April but could not get through or to a person. I sent the form with the UI showing the call in info, etc and so far I have not heard anything back. I have tried faxing, emailing and calling and still can’t get a person on the phone. I was finally able to get through online when my regular benefits automatically renewed as I was laid off last summer and exhausted my benefits. There were no specific instructions on how to file specifically just for the pandemic benefits ever sent to me and the login page where it says to put in your ssn and password for the regular benefits site wouldn’t work – it kept telling me I didn’t have access to that page. my point is I sent the request for retroactive benefits and I am not going to hold my breath that I will ever see them.

      Reply
  40. Looks like everyone is having issue w/ retroactive payments here in Illinois… filed 6/6 but have yet to see PUA payments from April and May. Any thoughts? Should I be calling someone? IDES website is pretty convoluted, lol… they really make it hard for us don’t they? Thanks for all the info, Andy, really appreciate your taking the time to put this info together.

    Reply
  41. I have applied for unemployment and received one payment. I was laid off in March but my boss didn’t let me know I was eligible for unemployment. I filed on June 7th. I asked when I applied by phone how to receive back pay and was told they give it to some people and not to others and she had no idea how they decide who does or does not receive it.

    Reply
  42. Does regular unemployment and combined wages unemployment (other states) The same form or are they separate applications? If it is the same my weekly amount adds up to $460 with 4 dependents but I think I’m eligible for the full amount of $650 or whatever it is. I can’t get anyone to answer phones at IDES to answer my questions. Hoping someone here can help me.

    Reply
  43. Can you tell me about retroactive PUA.
    The regular PUA payments and the FPUC are coming but there has been nothing regarding the weeks of retroactive pay. The dates in question are Mid March through Mid May. As stated current payments are coming. When should the retroactive pay arrive?

    Reply
    • RE Retroactive PUA benefits
      Hello, I am a sole proprietor who applied for PUA on 5/11 and was finally paid after accumulating 9 weeks of unpaid benefits. I went through nearly every possible delay and complication before I was finally paid, but everything has been smooth sailing ever since. I was also fortunate in that one of the 1300+ calls I made to IDES got me to a supervisor who told me all about the program requirements and processes over the course of our 45 minute phone call.

      Now that I have been paid and have continued not to have any issues, I am paying my luck forward by offering any helpful information I have to anyone who might need it. A quick review of the comments here seem to focus upon backpay of benefits. Here is some general information which may or may not help:

      1. Backpay for regular (not PUA) benefits is different from the PUA program. From my understanding, the fact that the PUA portal did not open until long after many businesses (and freelance workers) saw their income dry up. In addition, you cannot qualify for PUA without first being denied for regular PUA. Both of those facts make it highly likely that anyone applying for PUA will have a delay between the date they began to experience qualifying unemployment and the date they applied for PUA.

      2. Anyone asking about their PUA backpay – did you apply online? And did you select the option for backdating your claim to a prior date than the one which you were filling out the application? This is on around the 4th page of the online application (still in section 1) and is known as the Benefit Claim Effective Date. It gives you the option of the Sunday before you filed for benefits, or the Sunday of when you actually lost your employment/earnings. You select the backpay option and then enter in the Sunday of the week back to which you seek to make your claim. Here is the actual language from the website:
      “Please Note: If you became unemployed any time on or after 02/02/2020, you may request a backdate of your claim to the actual date you became unemployed rather than the Effective Date shown above. For the backdate, enter the first day your hours were reduced or the last day you worked which ever is earlier. “​

      3. If you selected the backpay date, then the first time that you certified you would have been asked to do all of these back weeks as well. Therefore, your first payment will be for multiple weeks and your backpay will come in one lump sum along with your current certification week. Therefore, if you have been paid but it was only for one week, then you likely did not request the earlier date as your Effective Date. If you know or believe this to be the case, you can also double-check by looking at the top of the home screen in the PUA portal. It should list your claim date along with your other claim information.

      4. If you did not receive a lump sum (you’d know if you had, believe me) then you might need to modify your claim to provide a new Benefit Claim Effective Date. Unfortunately it does not appear that this can be done online. I modified mine after listing 4/5 as my effective date, not realizing that I could actually go back to my final day of work, 3/10. I had to call in order to have my change entered into my claim. I then certified for the additional weeks and received my base pay + $600 back to the final week of March, and I received ONLY my base pay for the earlier weeks of March.

      I hope this information helps.

      Reply
      • That is great you got a person to help you, thank you for sharing your detailed information. I have a question – I was approved for PEUC benefits not PUA benefits – do you know what the difference is? I sent in the form from the ides website requesting back benefits as I was laid off in March and applied for benefits as soon as I was laid off, I sent the form and the original UI I was sent saying I had exhausted my state benefits (I was laid off last summer and freelanced in the fall then started full time again with a new company in January 2020). I sent in proof that my first call in date was supposed to be april 14th, the UI was dated 4/22/20 and I didn’t even get it in the mail until the last week of April. I kept trying on to certify online and kept getting a message saying I wasn’t eligible at this time to call this 800 # – I call the number it was always busy. I tried from April to June on the phone and online on Tuesdays then when I had no luck on Tuesdays I would try on Thursdays hoping to have better luck but I received nothing from April to June, I was finally able to get to certify online and I got a letter in the mail saying my state benefits had been automatically reopened for me and I think that is the only reason I got through, I then was sent another letter saying no just kidding we have no income shown for you since 6/16/19 which wasn’t correct so I sent in that appeal form as well and have not heard back from IDES about either. I worked in the tradeshow and event industry which will not be coming back for a long time… My husband passed away suddenly last year and it has been nothing but difficulty and frustration with both the IRS and IDES, I never received the stimulus money either when everyone else did and I know that is unrelated to this but I just feel like no matter what I do or try I can’t get an actual human to help me with either the IRS or IDES and it is scary having no income and no idea when your industry will return. If you know what the difference is between peuc benefits and PUA benefits and if I need to apply or request retroactive benefits in another way then with the form I faxed in and emailed to the IDES please let me know, I would really appreciate it. thank you!

        Reply
      • Hi
        I recently got a call back from IDES to learn I qualified for retroactive backpay from the second week of March until when I first received my benefits for my initial claim
        ( I never was denied regular benefits – just applied late). I was put on hold for almost a half hour and told that by IDES that he certified for me and I would receive a lump sum this week. I also noticed that my regular weekly benefit amount changed as well as my total benefit and my date now was changed to second week of March next year.

        I have no indication of deposit ot certifications for over these three retroactive months. My question is do I need to certify and file PUA claim to get these or should I wait and hope that what IDES said is in fact true? Or can I certify for all that back pay on my next certification day? How did you receive yours?

        Thank you very much

        Reply
        • I got told the same thing Monday and then told me to hold on while he did it for me and then the call got disconnected after 20 minutes. Total on phone was an hour and 15 minutes. He never called me back and still nothing has showed up just an email reminder to certify on a specific day. Did anything ever happen for you? I also put another call back in Monday evening.

      • Hello thanks for the information. I was denied reg. UI benefits and applied for PU benefits. My application says pending, I’m confused as to when we are supposed to start certifying. Do I wait for a approval letter in the mail or should I be certifying now? Even though it says pending? I’ve google up and got two different answers. Please help I don’t want to not certify if I’m supposed to be certifying. I’m confused! Sorry!

        Reply
        • Keep Certifying on Weekly basis. Once you are approved you will get a lump sump Payment based on your Weekly certification. It is taking them a while to process PU claims. PU Claims are certified weekly.

  44. Where can I go for back paid. I applied March 27,2020 but due to the fact my card was never mailed until the first week of June, So far I have only received 2 weeks paid June 1-June 12,2020. My question is what happens to all my retroactive pay?

    Reply
    • They told me today that there is not retro pay for that. I’m fighting them now because they owe me for regular weekly plus retro from march 29th through end of June when I got my first pay. They are very difficult folks. They’re not behind just because of the amount of people filing, it’s because they are incompetent and most don’t kniw how the pandemic unemployment is supposed to be done. It’s on their website and yet they’re telling me that there’s no retro for time period I’m claiming!! Smh

      Reply
      • I don’t know whether my experience is typical, but I applied for, and was given, PUA in May of last year. Then shortly after that, I read that retroactive benefits were available back to almost the beginning of last year. So I got on the IDES callback list, and when somebody from IDES finally called back, I explained the situation, and she put “certification forms” for each retroactive week I was eligible for on my on-line account….I completed and submitted them, and soon after I got a lump sum payment on the debit card that IDES originally sent me to receive my weekly benefit payments.
        So I would suggest starting with putting your name on the IDES callback last again.

        Reply
  45. Andy,
    If you have an opportunity, could you talk about extended benefits(eb) a little. On the ides(illinois unemployment) twitter page it states that if you exhausted your 26 weeks of unemployment and also exhausted your 13 weeks of pandemic emergency unemployment compensation, then you are eligible for an additional 13 weeks of extended benefits in illinois. The problem is that I have talked to 3 different people at the unemployment department and they all say they have never heard of it and have no idea what I’m talking about even though ironically it states it on their own official twitter page and the us dept of labor’s website says something similar as far as the extended benefits. The reason I’m asking is because my peuc is about to expire in about a month and I’ve already exhausted my 26 regular weeks. Your help would be appreciated more than you know and thank you for all your help with your wonderful articles that help people a lot!! Your a real good human being!!

    Reply
  46. Ok I filed for PUI on May 11, May 18, go my weekly amount of how much I’ll be getting, $198 a week, it’s Pending, and now in Ajudication, whatever that means which no one is telling me. I’m in forebearance with my mortgage which is ending June 16th and I have no monies to cover it. What’s going on and where can I get answers because I can’t get them on the phone. You get so far and it cuts you off. Made 400 calls already. thanks

    Reply
    • Hello, It’s Jan 28th 2021. I have 1 week of PUA left. Does anyone know if there will be an 11 week extension? Does anyone know if I have to re-certify or contact someone? Are there any websites that give information about this?

      Thank you!

      Reply

Leave a Reply to Alicia henry Cancel reply