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 announced an extension for the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) application deadline. Individuals in Cook, Fulton, Henry, St. Clair, Washington, Will, and Winnebago Counties affected by severe storms and flooding in July now have until December 13, 2024, to apply for these benefits.
The DUA benefits were initially made available following a major disaster declaration by President Biden on September 20, 2024. These benefits are funded federally through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Eligible claimants can receive up to 35 weeks of DUA benefits if their unemployment is due to the disaster. Eligibility is assessed weekly. Applications must be submitted by the new deadline.
To file a claim for DUA benefits, individuals should contact the IDES call center at 217.558.0401 and mention they are calling about DUA Benefits for the specified counties. Appointments can be scheduled at local IDES offices.
Applicants must first apply for regular state unemployment insurance and be found ineligible before seeking DUA benefits. IDES will evaluate eligibility and payments on a case-by-case basis.
Eligibility criteria include being unemployed or self-unemployed due to the disaster declared by the President, being a U.S. national or qualified citizen, not qualifying for regular unemployment insurance from any state, having worked or been scheduled to work in one of the affected counties, and proving that their primary source of income is no longer viable due to the disaster.
Other eligible individuals may include those unable to work because of physical damage to their workplace caused by the disaster or injury from it, those who became sole earners due to a household head's death related to the disaster, or those unable to work due to federal facility closures.
IDES offers employment services including job fairs and resources like IllinoisJobLink.com and WorkShare IL. It also provides labor market information and administers unemployment insurance programs. For more information on IDES services and updates, visit IDES.Illinois.gov.
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