Still unemployed? Illinois extends benefits 20 more weeks

An additional 20 weeks of state extended benefits (EB) are now available to those who exhaust the allotted 26 weeks of regular state unemployment and the additional 13 weeks of federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) benefits.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced the extension on Thursday.

Illinois law provides for 20 weeks of EB during times of “high unemployment,” as defined in the law, instead of the 13 weeks of EB that was available in Illinois since May.

Currently, 30 states are providing 13 weeks of EB, and 19 states, including Illinois, are providing 20 weeks of EB.

For more information and for assistance with unemployment benefits, visit IDES.Illinois.gov.