FOIA Request to Illinois Department of Employment Security regarding a list of residents paid by IDES from FY 2022 to FY 2025 on January 16, 2026.
A request has been made to the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, seeking detailed records of all Illinois residents who have received payments from IDES between fiscal years 2022 and 2025. The request was submitted by Prairie State Wire, a media organization focused on providing accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The requested information includes several specific data points for each individual: their name, the fiscal year in which they received payments, the total amount collected, as well as the first and last dates they were paid out. This data is sought in an electronic format to facilitate analysis and reporting.
The requestor has also indicated their role as a member of The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that aids media companies and public advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through Freedom of Information and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found at https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
Prairie State Wire has expressed its intention to use this information to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public. They have also requested a fee waiver, citing their status as a media professional involved in disseminating information to the public.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
