During a period of unemployment in Illinois, there are a number of benefits you can apply for. These benefits include the actual weekly benefit amount (WBA) and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). You may also want to appeal the number of your benefits to the Unemployment Board of Review.
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Actual weekly benefit amount (WBA) per week
Several states in the United States limit how much you can receive in benefits during a certain week. Illinois is one of those states. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $484 for taxpayers without dependents and $669 for those with dependent children.
The actual weekly benefit amount is based on the claimant’s income and the state’s guidelines. The number of unemployment benefits is subject to federal and state taxes.
You may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits for the first week after you file your claim. You can also receive payment for a second week. However, you will not receive the first week if you have not filed a claim within 22 days of your initial claim.
The weekly benefit rate is based on the wages of the highest-earning calendar quarter. The rate is 4 percent of the total high quarter wages. The wages are normalized to a 40-hour workweek.
Eligibility requirements
Whether you are seeking unemployment benefits or are already on the receiving end of them, you should be aware of the Illinois eligibility requirements. There are two basic requirements: you must be willing to work and you must be actively looking for employment. In addition, you must be able to prove your eligibility.
The Illinois unemployment insurance system uses a complex process to determine eligibility. It starts with your earnings during your base period. These earnings are then multiplied by a factor of 0.47. The benefit amount will depend on the number of insured wages during your base period. The total covered income must equal at least $1,134.
The Illinois unemployment insurance system uses monetary and non-monetary measures to calculate your eligibility. For instance, you may be eligible for an additional allowance if you are married and your spouse does not work.
Appeals to the Unemployment Board of Review
Appeals to the Illinois Unemployment Board of Review is a way to fight back if you have been denied benefits. You have the right to challenge a denial and you may even be able to collect retroactive benefits from the time you first applied for the benefits.
You have to make every effort to attend the hearing. You can also order a recording of the hearing. If you are not able to make it, you can request a postponement if necessary.
During the hearing, you can present direct testimony and cross-examine the other side. Be sure to make the most of your time at the hearing by asking a lot of questions and taking notes.
The Illinois Unemployment Board of Review is a quasi-judicial tribunal. You should be aware that your employer has the right to contest your application for unemployment benefits. It can also appeal the decision to a higher court.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
During the pandemic, many states had difficulty implementing one or more of their federal programs. This included the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC) program and the Emergency Assistance Program for Individuals (EAP).
The PUA program provided additional weeks of unemployment benefits for people who had exhausted their regular state benefits. Claimants were eligible to receive up to 79 weeks of benefits for self-employed, non-UC workers, and part-time workers. The program was designed to help people who were forced to remain home during the pandemic. It took about 38 days for the first payment to be made, and 25 days for the second.
The CARES Act also provided federal funding to cover some of the costs of the PUA program. The FPUC provided an additional $600 per week to all regular unemployment insurance claimants. This extra money was automatically added to the claimants’ benefits.
CARES Act provides economic stimulus to address the COVID-19 pandemic crisis
Earlier this year, the federal government passed a $2.2 trillion stimulus package. This package contains more than 30 programs that support the nation’s economy. The federal government has allocated nearly $30 billion of the money to education, healthcare, and other sectors. However, there is an estimated shortfall of federal stimulus funds for community colleges. As a result, California’s Department of Education is retaining up to 10 percent of the funds for state-level needs.
One program in the CARES Act includes the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program, which covers workers who are available for work but cannot find it. PUA is not available for independent contractors or teleworkers who have mature children.
The CARES Act also includes the Emergency Solutions Grants program, which provides funds to address the effects of infectious diseases. These funds include funding for hazard pay for staff working directly to prevent the spread of disease. The federal government has also provided funding for telehealth services. This service can be offered by private health insurance companies, community health centers, and other federally funded providers.
