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Unemployment Office Locations

How to File for Unemployment in Illinois

Illinois' IDES processes claims through its online IBIS system (accessed via benefits.ides.illinois.gov and ILogin security), and explicitly warns claimants not to pay a third party to file for them. The application session also times out after an hour of inactivity, so it's worth setting aside time to finish in one sitting.

Updated July 2026

What You'll Need

✓ Social Security number ✓ Valid email address ✓ Employer name, address, phone number and dates of employment for the last 18 months ✓ Reason for job separation for each employer ✓ Bank account and routing number for direct deposit
  1. 1

    Read IDES's filing tips first

    IDES publishes a short list of common mistakes — like misreporting your separation reason or missing an employer — that can delay a claim, worth skimming before you start.

  2. 2

    Set up your ILogin account

    Create your secure ILogin credentials, which you'll use for the IBIS system going forward.

  3. 3

    List every employer from the past 18 months

    Cross-check unfamiliar employer names against a pay stub or W-2 before reporting you didn't work somewhere — Illinois flags this as a common error.

  4. 4

    Complete the application in one sitting

    There's no save-and-resume; stepping away lets the session expire after an hour and you'll have to restart.

  5. 5

    Register with IllinoisJobLink.com

    Employment service registration is required by law for anyone who's applied for benefits; you're automatically given an account when you file.

  6. 6

    Certify every two weeks

    Log back in to certify for benefits on your assigned schedule and report any part-time or temporary earnings in the week you actually earned them, not when you were paid.

File Your Claim

File Online ☎ (800) 244-5631

Verified against the official Illinois unemployment agency site. View source

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