Jeffrey D. Mays | Director of Employment Security | IDES website
Jeffrey D. Mays | Director of Employment Security | IDES website
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) has been granted $11.25 million by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to enhance unemployment insurance systems across the state. This funding is part of a broader initiative, with Illinois being one of 19 states and territories receiving over $204 million in federal support aimed at improving the reliability and accessibility of these systems.
This marks the sixth grant IDES has received from the DOL for UI modernization, bringing their total to nearly $30 million. These funds are intended to improve customer experience, streamline processes, and bolster fraud prevention measures within the unemployment insurance program. Previous grants have focused on preventing fraud and supporting equity-driven projects that use data to address potential disparities affecting underrepresented groups.
"IDES remains fully committed to enhancing accessibility, improving the claimant experience, and strengthening the defense of the UI system," stated IDES Acting Director Ray Marchiori. He emphasized that these initiatives are long-term projects supported by grant awards and expressed pride in being selected as a recipient.
Over the past year, IDES has collaborated with the DOL on extensive user research involving more than 300,000 survey responses from claimants about their experiences with UI applications. This research aims to inform future technological upgrades to improve online claim applications and user portals.
Laurence Bafundo, Director of the Department of Labor’s Office of Unemployment Insurance Modernization, noted that "the U.S. Department of Labor prioritizes the modernization of the nation’s unemployment insurance systems." The recent IT modernization grant awarded to Illinois is part of ongoing efforts to enhance customer experience through adaptable technology solutions.
The current grant opportunity was announced by U.S. DOL in July 2023 as part of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to continue supporting nationwide improvements in UI systems.
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