Coronavirus (COVID-19) Relief Center
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Relief Center
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Illinois
These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on August 24, 2020.
For more up-to-date information on the relief programs available in Illinois, we recommend that you visit the state's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response portal.
Description of Program and Relief
Unemployment Benefits
State Unemployment Programs
Unemployment benefits are generally available to individuals who have been separated from employment through no fault of their own. The Illinois state government has filed emergency rules granting additional access to unemployment benefits for those unemployed because of the impact of COVID-19. Under these emergency rules, an individual who is unemployed because of COVID-19 would be considered “actively seeking work” as long as the individual was prepared to return to his or her job as soon as the employer reopened. Those individuals would not have to register with the employment service, as is typically required.
The Governor has also suspended the provision of the Unemployment Insurance Act that requires a one-week waiting period for unemployment insurance claims for claimants who are unemployed and are otherwise eligible for unemployment benefits.
The standard application is still required.
Federal Unemployment Programs
The Illinois state government has also implemented the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs.
FPUC provides an additional $600 each week in federally funded benefits to anyone entitled to regular state unemployment benefits and is currently available for the period beginning on March 29, 2020 through the week ending July 25, 2020. Benefits will be applied automatically to claimants who qualify.
PUA provides federally funded benefits for individuals who are unemployed for COVID-19 related reasons and are not covered through other unemployment insurance programs, such as self-employed sole proprietors and independent contractors. The Illinois Department of Employment Security expects to have the program fully implemented by the week of May 11.
PEUC provides up to 13 weeks’ worth of federally funded benefits to individuals who have exhausted their rights to regular state unemployment benefits. The Illinois Department of Employment Security expects to have the program fully implemented by the week of April 20.
Government or Lead Agency
Illinois State Governor & Department of Employment Security
Dates Available
Effective March 11, 2020
Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions
Due to an unprecedented volume of unemployment benefit claims the Illinois State Governor & Department of Employment Security is now asking individuals to adhere to an alphabetized schedule when filing an unemployment benefit claim online and over the phone.
Online Filing Schedule:
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Those with last names beginning with letters A-M will be asked to file their claims on Sundays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays.
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Those with last names beginning with letters N-Z will be asked to file their claims on Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays.
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Saturdays will be available for anyone to accommodate those who could not file during their allotted window.
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Call Center Filing Schedule:
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Those with last names beginning with letters A-M will be asked to call on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7:30am – 6pm.
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Those with last names beginning with letters N-Z will be asked to call on Mondays and Wednesdays between 7:30am – 6pm.
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Fridays (7:30am – 6pm) will be available for anyone to accommodate those who could not file during their allotted window.
Application Deadlines (If Applicable)
N/A
Contact for More Information
List of Additional Information
For further information, please visit:
To file a claim for unemployment benefits online, please visit:
For further information on the FPUC, PUA and PEUC programs, please visit:
© 2021 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this publication may be considered attorney advertising. Past representations are no guarantee of future outcomes.