Unemployment Benefits in Illinois
State-specific overview · Employment Law
Illinois requires $1,600 in base-year earnings and $800 in the highest-earning quarter to qualify.
How Illinois treats Unemployment Benefits
Illinois uses the first four of the five calendar quarters before filing as the base year. Claimants must earn at least $1,600 total and at least $800 in their highest-earning quarter during this period. Weekly benefits are calculated as approximately 47% of average weekly wage, subject to state minimum and maximum amounts. Illinois disqualifies workers who leave work without good cause or are discharged for willful misconduct.
The general definition of Unemployment Benefits
Temporary income payments to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.
Unemployment benefits are payments provided by the government to workers who have lost their jobs involuntarily and meet certain eligibility requirements. These benefits are funded by taxes that employers pay into a state unemployment insurance fund. To qualify, a worker typically must have been employed for a minimum period, have lost the job without quitting, and not have been fired for misconduct. Benefits are usually a percentage of the worker's prior wages and last for a limited time, often 26 weeks. Workers must actively search for new employment to continue receiving benefits.
Read the full Unemployment Benefits entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Illinois.