Illinois Unemployment Benefit Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for unemployment benefits in Illinois, you must meet the following requirements:

Monetary Eligibility

  1. Base Period Wages: You must have earned at least $1,600 in covered employment during your base period, which is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters.
  2. Non-High Quarter Wages: Within your base period, you must have earned at least $440 in wages outside of the quarter in which you earned the highest wages.

Reason for Separation

  1. Unemployment through no fault of your own: You must have lost your job through circumstances beyond your control, such as layoff, plant closing, or reduction in force.
  2. Voluntary Quit: You may be disqualified for benefits if you voluntarily quit your job without good cause attributable to your employer.

Availability for Work

  1. Able and Available: You must be able and available to accept suitable work during each week for which you claim benefits.
  2. Job Search: You must actively search for work and be ready to report to any suitable job offer.

Disqualifications

  1. Misconduct: You may be disqualified for benefits if you were fired for misconduct connected with your work.
  2. Unauthorized Quit: You may be disqualified for benefits if you quit your job without first giving reasonable notice or for reasons considered insufficient.
  3. Refusal of Suitable Work: You may be disqualified for benefits if you refuse to accept suitable work without good cause.
  4. Excessive Refusal or Incomplete Work: You may be disqualified for benefits if you repeatedly refuse to accept suitable work or perform work in a substandard manner.
  5. Disclosure of False Information: You may be disqualified for benefits if you knowingly provide false information to IDES or fail to report any changes in your work or earnings.
  6. Prison or Jail Sentence: You may be disqualified for benefits if you are incarcerated in a public or private prison or jail.
  7. Certain Military Duty: You may be disqualified for benefits if you are called to active duty in the Armed Forces.
  8. Employment in Another State: You may be disqualified for benefits if you are employed in another state while receiving benefits in Illinois.

Please note that these are just the general eligibility requirements. There may be additional factors that could affect your eligibility, such as if you are self-employed or if you have received workers’ compensation benefits. You should always consult with the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) to determine if you are eligible for benefits.

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