Coronavirus impacted Illinois workers to receive unemployment benefits

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (KFVS) - Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced Wednesday, March 11, that they will file emergency rules this week to clarify that people who are unemployed due to COVID-19 can qualify for unemployment benefits to the full extent permitted by federal law.

“The state of Illinois faces unique challenges as we work to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19,” said Gov. Pritzker. “To protect people across the state, it’s imperative that all workers stay home if they’re feeling sick or have come in contact with someone who has COVID-19. In order to overcome the unique challenges we’re facing, we’ve had to come up with innovative solutions and hope the federal government will support this endeavor as we continue to grapple with this public health crisis.”

If a person is off work, through no fault of their own, they can seek unemployment insurance benefits from IDES.

Once filed, the emergency rules will provide assistance to people who may be restricted in the type of work they can perform due to COVID-19.

The administration is also asking Congress to waive interest on any federal loans that Illinois and other state Unemployment Trust Fund accounts might require due to added strain from the outbreak.

They are also asking Congress to maintain the full federal unemployment tax credit for employers in states that may require those loans.

Illinois has already declared of a State of Emergency earlier this week.

This will release State Disaster Relief Fund assistance and ongoing requests for additional COVID-19 testing kits from the federal government.