Eligibility Criteria for Unemployment Benefits in Illinois

Job Separation

• You will not be eligible for unemployment benefits in Illinois if you were terminated from your job for cause, including not following the law or company policy. You will also not be covered if you left your job willingly, except where your employer broke certain employment laws. Some exceptions include leaving your job for health reasons, as a result of domestic violence or to follow a spouse in the military. When you apply for your benefits, the IDES will contact your former employer to verify the reason for your termination.
  
  

Previous Wages

• IDES will also look at your previous wages from a covered employer during your base period. Your base period is the first four of the last five full calendar quarters before you filed for unemployment. To be eligible, your covered wages during that time have to total at least $1600. At least $440 of your base period wages had to have been paid outside the calendar quarter in which you received your highest pay.
  
  

Available and Able to Work

• Since unemployment benefits are meant to be temporary, the IDES only grants benefits to those who are available and able to work, meaning you must be physically and mentally able to perform reasonable work requests. Being disabled doesn't automatically disqualify you from benefits, but if your disabilities would prevent you from finding a job, they also prevent you from receiving unemployment insurance. You will not be considered available for work if you are enrolled at school full-time or have other obligations that prevent you from finding work.
  
  

Actively Seeking Work

• IDES requires that you actively seek new employment to receive unemployment benefits. You will be required to register with the Illinois Skills Match program, a job placement service run by IDES, when you receive your approval letter. You must keep a record of your job search to show IDES any time they request it. You'll need the date you applied for the job, the name of the company and the person you contacted. If you can't produce this information, you'll lose your benefits.