www.ides.state.il.us - File an Unemployment Claim in Illinois

File an Unemployment Claim in Illinois Go to the Illinois Department of Employment Security website www.ides.state.il.us and Click on the "Apply Online Now" button.

Fill out each section of the forms truthfully and to the best of your knowledge using the information you collected in Step 1. Click the "CONTINUE" button on the bottom of each screen to navigate through the claim application forms. You can go back to a previous screen by using the navigation bar on the left. If you need to correct anything go back and do so then continue on. It will take about 30 minutes to complete the application if you have the information needed.

When you get to the end of the forms, click the "File My Claim" button to send your unemployment claim to the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Approximately two weeks after you have filed your unemployment claim it is critical that you certify for benefits. Call 1-888-337-7234 (Tele-Serve) to certify or use the Illinois Department of Employment Security website.

In about 2 two weeks you will receive a finding in the mail that will inform you of the date you should certify. If you do not receive this letter two weeks from the date you filed your unemployment claim then contact the Illinois Department of Employment Security at 1-888-367-4382 (toll-free).

Gather the following before you file for unemployment:

A. Your Social Security number and name as it appears on the SS card
B. Your Illinois mailing address and residence address
C. Telephone number where you can be contacted between 8AM-5PM, Monday through Friday (no pagers)
D. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you will need your Alien Registration card number
E. The names and addresses and reason for leaving employment of all employers where you have worked since 4-1-08. If you worked in another state during this time, include these as well.
F. If you had federal employment within the last 18 months you will need copies of forms SF8 and SF50.
G. Information (name, SSN, and date of birth) about your children, step children, adopted children, or any child you have court order legal custody
H. Name and social security number of your spouse
H. If you were in the military in the previous 18 months have a copy of your most recent separation form DD 214.
I. Any labor union name you currently have good standing with

Make sure computer system has the following minimum components. You will need to have:

Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher with cookies enabled

Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows Millennium Edition

Adobe Reader

Firefox, Opera, and Mac web browsers will not work with the unemployment filing system.

File an Unemployment Claim in Illinois visit www.ides.state.il.us