While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Unemployment Insurance is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. Unemployment Insurance is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own.
Learn more about Unemployment on the Illinois Department of Employment Security’s (IDES) Program Overview page here.
Unemployment Insurance benefits are weekly payments that are given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments can be provided via a direct deposit to their bank account.
You can learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Illinois, you must:
You can learn more about Illinois’ requirements to qualify for Unemployment Insurance here.
Apply for benefits online here during the week you are seeking payment, when your hours have been reduced or when you are no longer employed. If possible, do NOT wait until the week is over.
Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Illinois, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Illinois’ Unemployment claimant portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance over the phone, call (800) 244-5631 Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, CST.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, click here to find your nearest Illinois Unemployment Office location.
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings from employers that you worked for in Illinois during your base period. Your base period is the first four quarters of the last five completed calendar quarters prior to your initial claim.
The maximum weekly benefit amount is $593 for individuals, $707 for individuals with a spouse, and $809 for individuals with dependent children.
To find out more about the base period and how benefits are calculated, click here.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal here and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week here. Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least two contacts per week to receive payments and waiting week credit.
If you were discharged or quit your last job, expect a call (or email if that is your preferred contact method) to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance.
You can learn more about what to expect after applying here.
You must file a Weekly Certification Application every week you are receiving Unemployment Benefits until you are employed again. This weekly claim is like a follow-up application that certifies your continued eligibility for the program, and proves you are actively applying for new jobs.
Learn more about the Waiting Week here. Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
It’s important to remember that failure to certify could cause a delay in the processing of your benefits or a denial of benefits.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can obtain an appeal request form here, which you can submit by fax, by mail or in person to your local office when open. You can find a list of Illinois Unemployment Offices here.
You can also mail your completed form to the Chicago or Springfield Appeals Division offices at:
Chicago Office:
IDES Appeals Division
33 S State St, 8th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-2802
Springfield Office:
IDES Appeals Division
607 East Adams, 8th Floor
Springfield, IL 62701
If you need help with an application or have any further questions about your claim, you can call the Illinois Department of Employment Security at (800) 244-5631.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security’s customer service line is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM CST, except for state holidays. You can learn more about observed holidays in Illinois here.
You can also visit or call a local Unemployment Office for further assistance. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
If you have general questions about the Unemployment Benefits provided in Illinois, call the Department of Employment Security (IDES) at (800) 244-5631. This line can assist with frequently asked questions regarding unemployment claims and appeals.
The Department of Employment Security phone line is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM CST, except for state holidays. See Illinois observed holidays here.
You may also use the online contact chat bot for assistance, found here.
Illinois has 34 Unemployment Offices. Find your nearest local Unemployment Office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number below. Or, go to the Illinois IDES Contact Us page here.
| Location | Address |
|---|---|
| Arlington Heights | 723 W Algonquin Rd Arlington Heights, IL 60005 |
| Belleville | 4519 W Main Belleville, IL 62223 |
| Burbank | 5608 W 75th Pl Burbank, IL 60459 |
| Carlinville | 116 Plum Street Carlinville, IL 62626 |
| Carmi Job Center | 1700 College Avenue Carmi, IL 62821 |
| Champaign | 1307 N Mattis Ave Champaign, IL 61821 |
| Chicago - Daley College | 7500 South Pulaski Bldg 100 Chicago, IL 60652 |
| Chicago - Lawrence | 2444 W. Lawrence Chicago, IL 60625 |
| Chicago - Mid South | 4314 S. Cottage Grove Avenue Chicago, IL 60653 |
| Chicago - Pilsen | 1700 W 18th St Chicago, IL 60608 |
| Chicago - Woodlawn | 1515 E 71st St Chicago, IL 60619 |
| Chicago Heights | 202 S. Halsted St. ATOC Building, Suite 148 Chicago Heights, IL 60411 |
| Danville | 407 N Franklin Danville, IL 61832 |
| Decatur | 757 W Pershing Rd Decatur IL, 62525 |
| Effingham | 2311 Hoffman Dr Effingham, IL 62401 |
| Harvey | 16845 S Halsted St Harvey, IL 60426 |
| Joliet | 250 N Chicago Joliet, IL 60432 |
| Kankakee | 450 N. Kinzie Avenue Bradley, IL 60915 |
| Lisle | 2525 Cabot Drive Lisle, IL 60532 |
| Marion | Illinois Star Center 3000 W Deyoung Ste 800B Marion, IL 62959 |
| Maywood | 1701 S 1st Ave, Ste 10 Maywood, IL 60153 |
| Mt Vernon | 333 Potomac Blvd Suite E Mount Vernon, IL 62864 |
| Normal (Employment Services Only) | 705 E. Lincoln Suite 110 Normal, IL 61761 |
| North Aurora | 2 Smoke Tree Plaza North Aurora, IL 60542 |
| Ottawa | 1550 First Ave South Towne Mall Ottawa, IL 61350 |
| Peoria | 406 Elm St Peoria, IL 61605 |
| Quincy | 107 N Third Quincy, IL 62301 |
| Rock Island | 500 42nd Street Suite 1 Rock Island, IL 61201 |
| Rockford | 303 North Main Rockford, IL 61101 |
| Springfield | 1300 S 9th St PO Box 19509 Springfield, IL 62703 |
| Sterling | 2323 E Lincolnway Sterling, IL 61081 |
| Waukegan | One North Genesee Street Waukegan, IL 60085 |
| Wood River | 101 E. Edwardsville Rd. Wood River, IL 62095 |
| Woodstock | 500 Russell Ct Woodstock, IL 60098 |
To find more information on Illinois Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim:
Find further contact information by visiting the Illinois Department of Employment Security’s contact information page here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Illinois, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Illinois’ Unemployment claimant portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance over the phone, call (800) 244-5631 Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, CST.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, click here to find your nearest Illinois Unemployment Office location.
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging into your account through the Illinois Department of Employment Security’s (IDES) claimant portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the IDES customer service line at (800) 244-5631 or by contacting your local office. You can find a list of local offices here.
You will not receive Unemployment Benefits immediately after submitting the application. By law, you must wait one week before finding out whether you will begin receiving benefits. This is called the Waiting Week.
The Waiting Week is the week after you file your unemployment claim. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. You can find the Illinois claimant portal here.
If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week here.
Learn more about the Weekly Certification Application here.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can obtain an appeal request form here, which you can submit by fax, by mail or in person at your local office. Find your nearest local Illinois Unemployment Office here.
You can also mail your completed form to the Chicago or Springfield Appeals Division offices at:
Chicago Office:
IDES Appeals Division
33 S State St, 8th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-2802
Springfield Office:
IDES Appeals Division
607 East Adams, 8th Floor
Springfield, IL 62701
If you need help with an application or have any further questions about your claim, you can call the Illinois Department of Employment Security at (800) 244-5631.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security’s customer service line is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM CST, except for state holidays. See Illinois’ list of observed holidays here.
You can also visit or call a local Unemployment Office for further assistance. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.