I received a call and email today from a concerned Illinois citizen, trying to bring awareness to what seems like a serious error on the part of the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). I have contacted our State Representative’s office and they are looking into it. I will post an update here when I have one; in the meantime, here is the information I received — just in case you are struggling with the same issue, you can know you’re not alone, and folks are indeed trying to get it addressed.
Note: I have not yet vetted this information… it was provided to me via an individual who is not a client.
Summary: The state of Illinois shut down on March 20th, and the CARES Act, including the Federal Pandemic Employment Compensation (FPUC) passed on March 27th. Even before it passed, the official message from the State of Illinois was that there was no different way to apply for the federal aid aside from applying normally for state unemployment. IDES posted on their FPUC FAQ that individuals otherwise eligible for unemployment during the weeks of the program would be eligible for and receive the increased assistance. They also wrote that the additional $600 per week would be active in benefit payments for unemployment certifications (not applications or claims) completed starting April 6th. Then, on April 15th, they retroactively decreed through a PDF that anyone who had any claim for benefits pending or active before March 29th would be denied the FPUC.
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The IDES is not applying the $600 FPUC increase for mandatory COVID-19 economic shutdown to people receiving regular unemployment benefits (in violation of the federal implementation guidelines and the CARES Act).
IDES put out this fact sheet where they claim, “Pursuant to the federal legislation, this $600 will not be retroactively applied to unemployment claims that arose prior to March 29, 2020“
https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/News%20%20Announcements%20Doc%20Library/Federal-Stimulus-FAQ-April2020.pdf
While the $600 payments cannot be retroactively applied to before the CARES act took effect, it is incorrect to not apply the $600 to later weeks for those with existing claims started prior to March 29th. There is no requirement in CARES FPUC that individuals may not already receive unemployment benefits or forfeit eligibility. In fact, the opposite is true, and the $600 is an increase to existing benefits.
The IDES COVID FAQ also states the correct interpretation in their FPUC FAQ:
“Who is eligible to receive FPUC?
FPUC is payable to individuals who are otherwise eligible for unemployment benefitsfor weeks of unemployment beginning March 29, 2020 and ending July 31, 2020“
https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/Pages/COVID-FPUC-FAQ.aspx#h2
IDES provides no alternative method to apply for or receive federal assistance beyond applying for normal state unemployment benefits. After certifying for benefits through 4/18, [this claimant] still has not received additional payments from FPUC/CARES, even though the IDES website had indicated that FPUC would be included for eligible recipients with their normal benefits starting April 6th:
“The $600 federal increase is now available! Those claimants certifying beginning April 6 will see the additional supplemental income applied to their weekly benefit amount. This increase is available through the week ending July 25, 2020.”
https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/Pages/default.aspx
Due to the fact that [this claimant] has seen no additional $600 materialize, and the IDES changed the wording in their April 15th PDF, it seems they may have mistakenly adjusted the policy to not grant the $600 to recipients in this situation. IDES had not previously stated that claimants had to wait until after March 29 to apply to get FPUC — in fact, they indicated the opposite: that people should apply normally, and once it was enacted and implemented they would start seeing the additional funds.
Those who apply before March 29 are still eligible for benefits for weeks after March 29th, and thus still eligible for FPUC. The date of March 29th is to start $600 payments, not to cut off eligibility. This seems to be a serious error.
(Federal guidelines for the law are copied below for reference.)
CARES FPUC Guidelines:
C. Operating Instructions.
1. Eligibility for FPUC.
For an individual to receive FPUC, the applicable state must have a signed agreement with the Department. FPUC is payable to individuals who are otherwise entitled under state or federal law to receive regular UC for weeks of unemployment (including Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE)and Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX)). FPUC is also payable to individuals receiving the following unemployment compensation programs: PEUC, PUA, EB, Short-Time Compensation (STC), Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA), Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), and payments under the Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) program. A number of state laws include provisions extending the potential duration of benefits during periods of high unemployment for individuals in approved training who exhaust benefits, or for a variety of other reasons. Although some state laws call these programs “extended benefits,” the Department uses the term “additional benefits” (AB) to avoid confusion with the Federal-State EB program. FPUC is not payable to individuals receiving AB payments.
2. FPUC Eligibility and Relation to Other Types of Benefit Payments.
Individuals receive FPUC payments concurrently with payments under those programs identified above. Refer to UIPL 14-20, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 –Summary of Key Unemployment Insurance (UI) Provisions and Guidance Regarding Temporary Emergency State Staffing Flexibility, issued April 2, 2020, for additional information on how FPUC interacts with other programs authorized under the CARES Act.States that are unable to immediately pay benefits the week following the execution of the agreement with the Department to operate the program must provide retroactive payments to individuals eligible for FPUC for the weeks they would have been entitled.
https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/UIPL/UIPL_15-20_Attachment_1.pdf
Here is the full UIPL 14-20 —
https://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/UIPL/UIPL_14-20.pdf
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Thank you for the explanation. I have applied for the unemployment benefits on 3/25. I have been following all the requirements for certification and keep looking for job opportunities. I have not seen a payment of $600. I cannot find any information of where I can find the status of my FPUC.
According to the concerned reader who alerted me to this situation, the missing FPUC issue was remedied yesterday (in his case, at least). I would suggest contacting your district’s State Representative to see if they can assist.
My unemployment has exhausted by received an additional 13 weeks In Illinois. After fighting with the IDES website for a month, I finally got an email from them stating I was again eligible. I have certified twice. I have now received 4 weeks of benifits over the last week but not the $600 Federal money portion. No way to speak with anyone. Cant find any forms to fill out. IDES seems to be on lockdown from a assistance perspective. Suggestions???
Ugh, that sounds just awful. I’m so sorry to hear it. Yes, my first suggestion would be to contact your State Representative’s office. I did a Town Hall meeting with Will Guzzardi from my legislative district, and he said that any constituents of his having trouble should reach out to his staff and they’d do everything they could to help. You can look up your Rep’s office here. Another option would be to contact your Cook County District Commissioner. I saw a recent webinar with the 10th District Commissioner where she said her office was fielding calls about this type of thing all day long and wants to do everything they can to help.
I am in the same boat and tried to click the link provided by you above (rep’s office) but it has restricted access. I live in Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago. Any idea of whom I should contact to enquire about my Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) of $600 per week?
Thanks for your answers – very helpful !
The Illinois State Board of Elections link was restricted access? It comes up fine for me and it’s definitely a public site. You might try clearing your cookies and cache and trying again. Otherwise, you could google “how to find your state representative in illinois” and see if it works that way (DO NOT click on any ads — just real public sites).
Andy, I’m seeing the same 403 error you are. I’ve contacted the owners of illinoispolicy.org to let them know their site is having issues.
You can also find you Illinois State Representative here: https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/
Thank you for the lead Mark and Nancy !
I wrote to representative Arthur Turner from District 9 (found him using link provided by Mark) and will await his response.
Stay safe and be kind to each other, particularly during such tumulous and painful times the society is going through beside the COVID_19 related mayhem.
May all beings be happy, healthy and peaceful !
Andy
I have been furloughed on 4/23/2020. I filed an Unemployment Benefits claim on 4/24/2020. I have certified for the unemployment benefits on 5/12/2020.
On 5/18/2020, I have received a letter from State of Illinois, Department of Employment Security (mailed on 5/13/2020), stating that my payment “was withheld for the following reason(s):
* You have been monetarily ineligible on your most recent regular unemployment insurance claim and/or the Extended Benefits or Emergency Unemployment Compensation program you were recently paid on is no longer available in Illinois.”
Needless to say that I am extremely frustrated. The provided reason makes no sense. It is a shame that people like me need to figure out why our rights for the unemployment insurance are not granted.
That is definitely frustrating. My recommendation is to reach out to your state representative’s office; many of them are helping their constituents navigate the system to make sure they’re getting their questions answered. You can use this tool to enter your address and look up who your state rep is —
https://www.elections.il.gov/electionoperations/districtlocator/districtofficialsearchbyaddress.aspx —
…after you confirm the address, just scroll down past your federal rep and senators, to the “state representative”. Reach out to that office via phone or email and let them know you need help figuring this out.
My balance is zero. I wanted to know how do I enroll in the PEUC? I called customer service a week ago. Still waiting !!!
I have exhausted my regular UI benifits on July 15. The website said it will automatically put you In for PEUC. And I also called to be put on the call list to talk to someone about the PEUC. I finally called a call from IDES 6 weeks later . He told me I will get the additional 13 weeks he just couldn’t when I’ll get them because he didnt know. Then he asked me if there was anything else he couldn’t help me with. Now 7 weeks have went by and I still have not any payment from the PEUC 13 weeks . I was told I’ll get the back pay. My Bills dont stop coming in and the state of Illinois is playing around with our money. I have been looking for work. I have had 3 interviews but not gotten hired. I need this money and no one knows when I’ll get it nor do I know if I was even put in for PEUC because you cant check it. Please help. !! Out of money and behind on bills .