How You Can Be Disqualified From Receiving Benefits
There are several ways you can be disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits in Illinois:
- You quit your job without good cause.
- You were fired due to misconduct connected to your work.
- You did not have a good reason to apply for Illinois unemployment or did not accept a suitable job offered to you. A job may be deemed not suitable if the opening is due to a labor dispute, your health, safety or morals may be at risk, you would have to resign from or be prevented from joining a union, or the wages and working conditions were not as good as those for the same kind of work elsewhere in your community.
- You were fired because you committed a felony or a work-related theft.
- You are already receiving benefits from another source.
- You will be paid wages in the form of vacation pay or other similar types of wages for a particular week.
- You are receiving workers compensation for a disability that is more than the unemployment benefit you are entitled to.
- You are receiving pension payments greater than the unemployment benefit you are entitled to.
- You are a teacher, researcher or administrator working for an educational institution and you are between academic terms.
- You are a professional athlete between sports seasons.
Do I Qualify For Unemployment Benefits
To qualify for unemployment benefits in Illinois, you must have lost your job through no fault of your own . You must also be able and available for work.
Under normal circumstances, to collect unemployment benefits in Illinois, you’d need to be actively seeking work, but due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, this requirement has been waived for now. You’ll be eligible for benefits if you’re not actively seeking work, but are prepared to return to your job as soon as your employer reopens or it’s safe to do so.
If you’re confined to your home because of COVID-19 , you’re considered unemployed for the time being through no fault of your own. The same holds true if your job can’t be done from home and you need to stay home to care for your children.
Furthermore, to qualify for benefits, you must have earned at least $1,600 during your base period, as well as at least $440 outside of the base period quarter when your earnings were highest. If you’re filing an unemployment claim in April 2020, your base period is January through December 2019.
What Is Form 1099
Form 1099-G reports the total amount of taxable unemployment compensation paid to you. This includes:
- Unemployment Insurance benefits including Federal Extensions , Pandemic Additional Compensation , Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation , and Lost Wages Assistance
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits
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How To Get Cobra
Group health plans must give covered employees and their families a notice explaining their COBRA rights. Plans must have rules for how COBRA coverage is offered, how beneficiaries may choose to get it and when they can stop coverage. For more COBRA information, see COBRA Premium Subsidy. The page links to information about COBRA including:
How Can I Qualify For Illinois Unemployment Benefits
Qualifying for unemployment benefits is a two-step process. First, youll need to meet the eligibility requirements to start earning benefits. Then, if youre approved, youll also need to meet weekly requirements to continue receiving unemployment compensation.
Generally, to start receiving benefits, youll need to meet several requirements.
- You lost your job through no fault of your own. If you were fired for misconduct, you probably wont qualify for unemployment insurance benefits. The same is most likely true if you quit your job, unless you provide a good reason such as health issues or that you experienced sexual harassment.
- You earned at least $1,600 total during your base period .
- You earned at least $440 in one of the quarters outside of your highest-earning quarter .
Because Illinois state law requires you to be looking for work in order to qualify for benefits, youll need to register with the Illinois Employment Service system at IllinoisJobLink.com to qualify for benefits.
Once youre approved for and receiving benefits, theres a one-week waiting period before you first receive your benefits. After that, youll need to meet requirements to continue receiving payments. You must
- Log in or call every two weeks to recertify your eligibility
- Be willing and able to work
- Be actively looking for work
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What Are The Eligibility Requirements
You must be unemployed through no fault of your own. You also must:
Undocumented immigrants are not eligible at this time. To be eligible, you must be authorized to work in the U.S.
If you have reduced hours which results in your wages being less than what your unemployment benefit would be, you may qualify for some assistance.
For a full listing of eligibility requirements please review pages 4 through 6 of the IDES Unemployment Insurance Handbook.
COVID-19: There are different eligibility requirements if you were temporarily laid-off due to COVID-19 .
Application For Unemployment Benefits
Posted: To complete this form, you will need: Your State ID or Drivers Licence number, Your social security number , and Information about your employment situation. This link sends you to the IDES website, where you can file a claim online and learn more about how to file for unemployment benefits.
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What If My Claim Is Rejected
Its understandably frustrating if your application is denied. But you might still qualify due to an exception. For example, youre generally not eligible for unemployment benefits if you quit your job, but if you were facing harassment at your work, you may still be eligible for benefits.
If your application is denied, its worth appealing the decision. Youll need to do this within 30 days. To file a claim, youll need to either write a letter or fill out a form and mail it in, fax it in, or drop it off at a local IDES office.
After that, youll be required to attend a hearing where youll have the opportunity to present your case and call witnesses. After hearing all the evidence, a judge will make a decision. If youre still denied, you can file another appeal to the board of review, and then through the circuit court of your county.
How Long Can You Receive Unemployment Benefits
If you continue to meet all requirements and pursue new employment through IDES, your unemployment will continue for 26 weeks. To continue to be eligible to receive these benefits, you must make sure you rectify weekly. Ensure you have served one waiting week and then continue to file your claim for Illinois unemployment weekly. Keep thorough documentation of your job search to prove that you were willing, able, available, and actively looking for new employment through IDES.
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How To Get Your 1099
IDES will send your 1099-G form through email or mail . If you have additional questions about accessing your 1099-G form, please call IDES at 244-5631.
View the 1099-G Infographic for more information:
If you cannot access your 1099-G form, you may need to reset your password within IDESâs secure website. Please note that this site differs from the system used by PUA claimants, and your password may have expired.
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How To Apply For Ui Benefits In Florida
You will need the following documents to apply for unemployment benefits in Florida:
If any of the listed criteria applies to you, you need to have the following additional information available:
- Not a U.S. Citizen: Alien Registration Number or other work authorization form.
- Military employee: A copy of your DD-214 Member 4. If you do not have a Member 4, a copy of your Member 2-7 may be used.
- Federal employee: SF-8 or SF-50.
- Union member: Union name, hall number, and phone number
Once you obtain the required documents, you may then proceed to file for unemployment benefits in Florida. In the state of Florida, unemployment benefits must be applied through the online application process.
Note If you file any claim without reporting employers correctly, you may experience delays. If you do not list the correct information, your benefits may get delayed while the missing employment information is obtained.
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How Do I Register And File My Businesss Unemployment Returns
Posted: How do I register and file my businesss Unemployment returns? Illinois State Unemployment is administered by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Contact them at 1-800-247-4984 or visit their website at www.ides.illinois.gov. You may file your UI-3/40 report and pay your Unemployment Insurance Tax via MyTax Illinois .
Why Has Ides Come Under So Much Criticism
IDES is being criticized on both sides of the aisle for slow response times for receiving service, particularly for people calling in for assistance. Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, noted that due to the glacially slow response, some people have given up on receiving their benefits.
“I personally believe that many of my constituents and, I’m sure, many of the citizens of Illinois that have filed, have just given up,” Rose said. “This was like some Franz Kafka novel combined with Atlas Shrugged. When they needed us the most, they were left waiting and have since moved on.”
Richards said that the agency can normally get to calls in 1-2 weeks. For claims that are moving through the system, however, she said that it could take 4-6 weeks for the agency to get back to people.
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How Much Might I Get
Like other states, Illinois considers the wages you earned during a certain base period to calculate your unemployment benefit amount. Your base period is the first four out of the last five calendar quarters before the quarter in which you file for benefits. So, for example, if you had applied for unemployment benefits in May 2020 , your base period would have been Jan. 1, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2019. The states Unemployment Insurance Benefits Handbook has a table of time frames that you can reference to more easily pinpoint your base period.
Those who dont make enough under the standard base period may qualify under an alternate base period. Its calculated using your most recent completed four quarters. This calculation can only be used for claimants not eligible according to the standard base method. It cant be used to try to increase weekly benefit amounts.
But while some states give you a simple formula to calculate what your benefits payment might be, the state of Illinois doesnt. Instead, it depends on how much you earned during your two highest-earning quarters during the base period and whether youre supporting any dependents, such as a child or non-working spouse. Its a bit more complicated, but it also means you could get a higher payment if there are others depending on you.
To see what your weekly benefit payment might be under normal circumstances, you can use the states Table of Weekly Benefit Amounts.
Why Is The Response So Slow
The issues with IDES are in large part due to staffing shortages, with the agency saying that 381 positions were vacant. Of those 381, 87 are currently going through the hiring process while 200 have yet to be filled.
Those 87 positions will take time in order to be properly filled. Richards said that the hiring process for new full-time employees takes 3-6 months.
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Dont Have Your Illinois Payroll Account Numbers
To get your Illinois Payroll Account Numbers, register online with MyTax Illinois. After you complete registration, you will receive your Illinois Unemployment Account Number and Taxpayer ID Number.
Square Payroll only requires the first seven digits of your Unemployment Account Number. Your Taxpayer ID Number will typically match your nine digit Federal Employment Identification Number followed by a three-digit Sequence Number.
Things To Know After Filing An Application
The responsibilities of the claimants will not end after filing the claim for UI benefits. Claimants must adhere to all the rules and regulations until the end of the benefit period to make sure that their benefits are not canceled at any point in time.
To make sure that they experience no hurdles, all claimants must be aware of certain rules that will have an impact on their benefit period. Also, the claimants would do well to know more about the training and personal development offered by IDES which will help be more competent in the job market.
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Illinois Unemployment Benefits And Eligibility
COVID-19 UPDATE: Because the coronavirus pandemic has left so many Americans jobless, the federal government has given states more flexibility in granting unemployment benefits. If you have questions about whether youre eligible for unemployment benefits read our COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits and Insurance FAQ and check out Illinois’s claimant handbook.
When Do W2s Come Out
The IRS mandates that employers have to send out or make W2s available to their employees by January 31. Even if you switched jobs, they still have this deadline in place, yet sometimes you can expect to receive it earlier. Your former employer will also include your accumulated vacation, severance, and outstanding bonuses on your W-2 form.
To file your income taxes and get your tax refund, you have to have your W2. This form contains all of the important information that you need for your annual income tax filing.
If you do not have your W-2 form by the end of January, confirm that your employer has your correct mailing address. If you dont receive the W-2 from your employer by Valentines Day, contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 and provide them with your details so they can find your information.
Before calling them, make sure you are prepared to provide them with your name, mailing address, phone number, social security number, employers name and address, and the dates that you were employed
The IRS will accept returns without W2s however, this could delay your refund. The IRS has to make sure that your income is accurate and matches their records before they can issue you a tax refund.
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Pritzker Tax Relief Proposals Are Election Year Gimmicks Critics Say
The futility of her many attempts does not surprise Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation who has studied the troubled infrastructure of state unemployment benefits systems nationwide, most of which are now overwhelmed with record requests.
I imagine it as little gumball machine with hundreds of gumballs trying to get through the small little hole, Stettner said. You know, its almost impossible to do.
In his work, Stettner found a majority of states still using 1980s technology in their unemployment benefits systems. He said Illinois and Indiana have both made moves to modernize, unlike some states.
But thats not a silver bullet. You have to have good software, keep it updated and have really good leadership, he said.
Stettner said all states need to think out of the box, lift unnecessary obstacles and reach out to the tech sector for innovative solutions, a job too big for the old way of doing things.
I dont envy anyone the position of running an agency like IDES or any unemployment agency today, especially given these numbers, he said.
Back in Orland Park, one last creative attempt for Martinez may have done the trick.
Isaid, Im just going to try one more time. And even though I have been marriedfor 15 years, I tried my maiden name. And it went through!
Of course, claimants must first get through and get certified, in order to get paid.
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What If I Am Denied Benefits
If you file an Illinois unemployment application and are denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You must file your appeal within 30 days after you receive your letter of denial. Your appeal will be heard by an Administrative Law Judge where you will be given the opportunity to present your case. You do have the option of using an attorney or another representative to assist you in your appeal. The state contracts with law firms who can also give you limited legal advice at hearings. For more information about appealing a decision regarding Illinois unemployment, contact 884-6591 or 430-1776 to explore this option.
If your appeal is denied, Illinois unemployment laws guarantee your right to appeal to the Board of Review, an independent five-person body, who will also review your case. If you are rejected at this level, your final option is to file an appeal with the Circuit Court of the county where you live.
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Check Back For Updates To This Page
For the latest updates on coronavirus tax relief related to this page, check IRS.gov/coronavirus. Were reviewing the tax provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, signed into law on March 11, 2021.
Unemployment compensation you received under the unemployment compensation laws of the United States or of a state must be included in your income. It is taxable income. If you received unemployment compensation, you should receive Form 1099-G showing the amount you were paid and any federal income tax you elected to have withheld. Some states do not mail Form 1099-G recipients need to get the electronic version from their stateâs website. For more information, see Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income.
