How can I become eligible for the IDES Unemployment Insurance benefits? It is no longer news that the Covid-19 pandemic has increased the rate of Unemployment in the country. Meanwhile, if you lost your job as a result of the pandemic or other reasons. I have good news for you. In the meantime, the government of Chicago, Illinois has made life easier for all her unemployed citizens in the state by providing them the Unemployment benefits.
The IDES Unemployment Insurance benefit is an insurance program that provides temporary financial assistance to unemployed workers in the state of Illinois. To become eligible for the benefits, you must meet Illinois’ legal eligibility requirements. However, for you to qualify for the benefits you must be an unemployed individual that is available for work, willing, and able to work, and must be actively seeking for work.
The Insurance program is governed by the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act. This platform is responsible for the payment of benefits to eligible unemployed workers. The platform is also designed to provide living expenses while the person seeks employment. But the Claimant must not be disqualified under any provision of the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act.
How does IDES Unemployment Insurance Benefits work?
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) Unemployment Insurance Benefits are determined by the employer’s contributions to a former employee who is now unemployed. The employer provides details of the worker after separation from employment to IDES (Illinois Department of Employment Security). However, for an Unemployed worker to get the Insurance benefits, you must file an unemployment claim immediately after separation from employment.
To file a claim, you can visit the official website online – www2.illinois.gov/ides/Pages/ default.aspx or locate the nearest Illinois Department Employment Security office around you. You can check the official website and the IDES login platform to locate the office locations near you. More importantly, if during the week an employee does not work full-time because of lack of work. He or she may be eligible for partial benefits if the wages earned in such a calendar week are less than his or her weekly benefit amount. The claimant is also entitled to receive an allowance for a non-working spouse or dependent children.
Eligibility Requirements for Unemployment Insurance Benefits
For you to qualify for Unemployment benefits you need to follow certain requirements below and they are:
- To be eligible, a claimant must have earned at least $1600 during the base period (12-month period) with at least $400 of that amount earned outside the highest calendar quarter.
- Your employer must follow the State’s unemployment insurance law. He must not engage in the following work which includes agricultural, domestic, railroad, and government work, and any work is done for one’s family and on commission.
- You must either be unemployed or a part-time worker. Your earning must fall below a specific threshold determine when you file your claim.
- Your Unemployment must be involuntary. Due to some certain reasons, you may be disqualified:
- If you were discharged for misconduct in your workplace.
- If you were discharged for theft in your workplace
- When you are out of work because of a labor dispute
- If you quit your job willingly without good cause attributable to your employer.
- You must have the capacity to work and available for work. Benefits are not paid when you are on vacation. As a student, you may only be eligible if you are attending a training course approved by the IDES director. Also, benefits are not paid for days you skip work or unable to work because of illness, family responsibilities, lack of transportation, disability, etc.
- You must keep a record of your job search activities weekly that gives you access to claim your benefits. This record is needed when your eligibility is challenged and questioned, therefore you may be required to produce the record document. You must actively be seeking for work and be willing to accept any suitable job offered.
If you are convinced you have met the requirements, then you can now apply for the Unemployment benefits.
Information required to file a claim for benefits
- Your Driver License / State ID
- Your Social Security Number and Name as it appears on your Social Security card.
- Record of any pension payments you are receiving.
- If you are separated from work as a civilian employee of the federal government, get copies of your Standard Form 8 and Personnel Action Form 50.
- If you are claiming your spouse or child as a dependent. You need to provide the date of birth, name(s) of dependent(s), and the Social Security Number.
- Name, mailing address, phone number, employment dates, separation reason for all the employers you worked for in the last 18 months.
- You need to provide information about the gross wages earned this week especially if you have worked since Sunday of this week.
- Report all gross wages for any work done either full or part-time.
- You must report the gross wages as earned weekly not the week you received the wage.
How to Apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits
The following steps show you how to apply for the IDES Unemployment insurance benefits.
Prepare and gather information
The first thing to do when you want to apply for insurance benefits is to gather all information or paperwork you have stating the history of the entire time you worked for your employer. You may need to provide or use this information to be considered for unemployment benefits despite the reasons why you are unemployed.
You should find, arrange and organize these documents. Also, try to find any additional documents you may need. This is because there are times your employer may want to contest your unemployment.
Information you may need to find and organize:
- Income tax information
- Employer addresses
- Records of any pension payment you are receiving
- Social security number and name on your Social security card
- Other benefits were received.
You can also contact the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) FAQ for more information you might need.
Fill out and submit the application
To get your unemployment benefits as soon as possible, you need to file and submit the application during the first week of unemployment.
There are two ways to apply normally and they are:
- Make use of the IDES’s online application platform. When you login to the platform, create a username and password.
- Apply for benefits in person at any local IDES office around you.
Please note, that all IDES offices are closed until further notice. This is due to the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, you must apply using the online platform.
Wait for IDES’s response
You must receive information from IDES in your mail after you file a claim. If your request for benefits has been approved, you will receive a form titled “UI Claimant Wage Information Sheet”. This form will show you a description of your benefits and also list the day you need to call IDES to certify your benefits. However, if you did not receive any information within 3-4 weeks, simply call IDES. This is to find out if they have decided so that you can appeal to them if you have been denied.
You may receive a letter from IDES about an “adjudication interview”. This means you must speak or meet with the IDES agent to verify that you are eligible for benefits. Besides, most interviews are done over the phone. The adjudication letter gives shows you a date and time for the meeting. It will also give you more information on who to contact.
Please make sure you do not miss the interview. If you miss it, you might be denied. You will have to appeal when denied and this makes the process harder.
Certify your Claim
For you to start receiving benefits, you must certify your claim. All you need to do is to call the IDES ”Tele-Serve” system. This certification verifies you and shows you are still entitled to the benefits. To certify your claim, you need the following.
- You will need to provide information to identify yourself.
- Provide wage information about the money received.
- You will also need to answer several questions that will determine your eligibility for the benefits.
- You must seek employment and keep a record of the jobs you have applied for.
Consider appealing the decision when you are denied benefits
You can appeal this decision within 30 days if your application was denied by IDES. The appeal process is clearly stated in the letter you receive.
You can also talk to a lawyer that has experience with unemployment appeals to discuss your situation. This may result in loss of money if you are denied benefits. You can follow this link to know more information on Appealing an Unemployment benefits decision.
Keep looking for work while you receive Unemployment benefits
As stated by IDES, it is required and mandatory that you keep looking for work every week while you receive unemployment benefits. You can make use of the Illinois JobLink to find jobs and help connect you as a job seeker to employers.