The state of Illinois, which is working through an unprecedented number of unemployment claims in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, is urging those who have lost their jobs to file for benefits online.
Using the Department of Employment Security’s at www2.illinois.gov/ides is the “safest, easiest, and fastest route” to submitting a claim and will free up the phone lines for those without internet or computer access, or who encounter technical difficulties submitting online, said spokeswoman Rebecca Cisco.
More than 64,000 Illinoisans submitted unemployment claims during a three-day period last week, more than 10 times the number who submitted during the corresponding period last year, the department said. The state will release updated figures Thursday on the number of claims it received for the week ending March 21.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said during a news conference Monday that the state moved its online application portal to a more expansive software platform after the system became overwhelmed in recent days with an “unprecedented” number of people trying to file claims.
“I don’t think we’ve ever seen this before, even in periods during the 2008-2009 crisis,” he said.
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The department has extended call center hours and added call center staff, but is “continuing to field an unparalleled volume of calls,” Cisco said.
The department is urging people to submit claims before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m., and to refrain from calling to check on the status or from trying to file over the phone. Claims cannot be submitted using a smartphone, but rather must be sent through a desktop, laptop or tablet.
“We understand and empathize with the heightened level of frustration this situation has had on those wishing to file a claim,” Cisco said in an emailed statement. “We ask for your patience, understanding, and cooperation as we rise to meet the exceptionally high volume of traffic while working as quickly as possible to serve each customer’s needs.”
The state has loosened requirements for those receiving unemployment benefits under emergency rules adopted to respond to COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. A person is considered to be actively seeking work as long as they’re prepared to return to work as soon as the employer reopens, according to the agency’s website.
The state said people who have to stay home from work to care for a child would be considered eligible for benefits after Pritzker issued an executive order temporarily closing schools.
Those who need technical assistance or are unable to file a claim for unemployment benefits online can call the customer service line at 800-244-5631, the department said.
baiduhai’s Ally Marotti contributed.