How Much Is Unemployment in Illinois?
Navigate Illinois unemployment: Understand benefit calculations, eligibility, and the financial support you could receive.
Unemployment benefits in Illinois offer temporary financial support for individuals who have lost their jobs under specific circumstances. These benefits, administered by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), aim to provide a financial bridge while eligible individuals seek new employment. Understanding the requirements and processes is important for those navigating job loss.
Eligibility for Benefits
To qualify for unemployment benefits in Illinois, individuals must meet several specific criteria. A primary requirement is that unemployment must be through no fault of the individual, typically covering situations such as layoffs or reductions in force. If an individual quits voluntarily without good cause related to the job or is terminated for misconduct, they generally will not be eligible.
Applicants must also satisfy monetary eligibility requirements based on their past earnings. During a “base period,” which typically consists of the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before filing a claim, an individual must have earned at least $1,600 in total wages. Additionally, at least $440 of these wages must have been earned outside of the highest-paid quarter of that base period.
Beyond monetary requirements, ongoing eligibility requires individuals to be able to work, available to accept suitable employment, and actively seeking new work. Applicants must register with the Illinois Employment Service, often through IllinoisJobLink.com, to demonstrate their availability and job search efforts.
Calculating Your Weekly Benefit Amount
The weekly benefit amount (WBA) in Illinois is determined by a formula that considers wages earned during the base period. Specifically, IDES calculates the WBA by combining earnings from the two highest-paid quarters within the base period. The WBA is then 47% of that combined total, divided by 26.
Claimants with dependents may receive an additional “Dependency Allowance.” This allowance is available for a dependent child under 18 or a non-working spouse. However, claimants can only receive the allowance for either a spouse or a child, not both. As of January 1, 2025, the minimum weekly benefit amount is $51. The maximum WBA for an individual without dependents is $605, while it can increase to $721 with a dependent spouse, or $827 with a dependent child or children. The maximum allowance for a dependent spouse is $128, and for a dependent child, it is $222.
Benefit Duration and Payment Details
In Illinois, standard unemployment benefits are available for up to 26 weeks. The total amount of benefits an individual can receive during their benefit year is the weekly benefit amount multiplied by 26 weeks, plus any applicable dependent allowance.
Benefit payments are issued either through direct deposit to a bank account or via a debit card. Payments are distributed on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. To continue receiving benefits, claimants must certify their eligibility every two weeks, confirming they are able to work and actively seeking employment. During this certification process, any gross wages earned from part-time or temporary work must be reported, as earning too much can reduce or eliminate the benefit for that week. Unemployment benefits are considered taxable income and are subject to both federal and Illinois state income taxes. Claimants have the option to elect tax withholding from their benefit payments: 10% for federal taxes and 4.95% for state taxes.
Applying for Unemployment Benefits
To apply for unemployment benefits in Illinois, file a claim primarily through the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) online portal. File the claim as soon as possible after becoming unemployed, within the first week. While online filing is the recommended method, in-person services may be available by appointment at local IDES offices.
To complete the application, provide the following information and documents: the applicant’s Social Security Number and a driver’s license or state ID. Applicants will also need to provide detailed employment history for the past 18 months, including employer names, addresses, dates of employment, and the reason for separation from each job. If claiming a dependency allowance, the Social Security Number, date of birth, and name(s) of the dependent(s) will also be necessary.
After submitting the application, IDES sends a “Finding” letter indicating qualification and calculated weekly benefit amount. A waiting week is required, meaning no benefits are paid for the first eligible week of the claim. However, the individual must still file and meet all eligibility criteria for that week.