What you need to do each week to keep your claim active

In Illinois, you must certify your claim every week to receive unemployment benefits. Certification means telling the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) that you are still unemployed and looking for work. You do this through an online form that takes about five minutes. If you do not certify, your benefits stop — even if your claim is approved.

IDES sends you a certification notice each week that tells you the exact date your certification window opens and closes. You can certify any day during that window, but the important date is firm. Most people certify on the same day each week to avoid forgetting.

You certify through the IDES website at www2.illinois.gov/ides using your username and password. You can also certify by phone at 1-800-244-5631, though the website is faster and you get a confirmation number when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • You must certify every week during your certification window or your benefits will not be paid that week.
  • Certification takes five minutes and happens online at www2.illinois.gov/ides or by phone at 1-800-244-5631.
  • IDES tells you the exact dates your window is open in the notice they mail or email you each week.
  • You will answer questions about whether you worked, earned money, or refused any job offers during that week.
  • If you miss the important date, you can request a waiver, but it is not automatic and you will not receive that week's payment while waiting.

Log in to your IDES account and find your certification notice

Go to www2.illinois.gov/ides and click "File a Claim or Certify" at the top of the page. Enter your username and password. If you have not created an account yet, you will need to do that first — IDES will ask for your Social Security number, date of birth, and email address.

Once you are logged in, look for the section labeled "Certify" or "Weekly Certification." IDES will show you whether a certification is due and the dates your window is open. The notice will say something like "Certification window: Sunday, January 12 through Saturday, January 18." You can certify any day during that window.

If you do not see a certification option, your claim may not have been approved yet, or there may be a hold on your account. Call IDES at 1-800-244-5631 to check the status.

Answer the weekly certification questions

The certification form asks you to report what happened during the week covered by that certification. The questions are always the same. You will be asked:

  • Did you work during this week? If yes, how many hours and how much did you earn?
  • Did you look for work? (IDES does not require proof, but you should be honest.)
  • Did you refuse any job offers or turn down work?
  • Did you receive any other income, such as severance, vacation pay, or sick pay?
  • Are you able and available to work?

Answer each question truthfully. If you worked part-time or earned any money during the week, report it. IDES will reduce your benefit amount based on your earnings, but you will still receive a partial payment in most cases. If you do not report earnings and IDES finds out later, you may have to repay the overpayment and face penalties.

If you refused a job offer or were fired, say so. IDES may contact you to ask why. If the reason was misconduct or you turned down suitable work without good cause, you could lose benefits for that week or longer.

Submit your certification and save your confirmation number

After you answer all the questions, click "Submit" or "Certify." The website will show you a confirmation number and the date IDES received your certification. Write down or screenshot this confirmation number — keep it for your records in case IDES later says you did not certify.

You will also receive an email confirmation at the address on file with IDES. If you do not get an email within a few hours, log back in and check whether your certification went through. If it did not, try again or call 1-800-244-5631.

Your payment will be processed within two to three business days if everything is correct. Money is deposited to your debit card or bank account, depending on how you set up your account when you filed your claim.

What to do if you miss the certification important date

If you miss your certification window, you will not receive a payment for that week. You can request a waiver — a one-time exception — by calling IDES at 1-800-244-5631 or logging into your account and looking for a "Request a Waiver" option.

IDES does not automatically grant waivers. You will need to explain why you missed the important date. Good reasons include a death in the family, a serious illness, or a technical problem with the website. If IDES approves your waiver, you can certify late and receive that week's payment. If they deny it, you lose that week's benefits.

Do not wait to request a waiver. Call or submit the request as soon as you realize you missed the important date. The longer you wait, the less likely IDES is to approve it.

Report changes to your claim right away

If something changes during your claim — you start a new job, move to a different state, go back to school, or become unable to work — tell IDES when ready. Do not wait until your next certification. Log into your account and look for "Report a Change" or call 1-800-244-5631.

If you return to work, even part-time, you must still certify each week and report your earnings. Your benefits will be reduced based on how much you earn, but you may still receive a partial payment. If you stop looking for work or move out of Illinois, your claim will end.

If you are laid off again or your hours are cut, you may be able to reopen your claim without filing a new one. IDES can tell you whether that is possible when you call.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time of day should I certify?

There is no best time. You can certify any time during your certification window, which is usually open from Sunday through Saturday. Many people certify on Monday morning to start the week, but the website works the same way at any hour. Just make sure you certify before midnight on the last day of your window.

Can I certify on behalf of someone else?

No. You must log in with your own username and password and certify for yourself. If someone else certifies using your account, IDES may flag it as fraud. If you cannot certify yourself, call 1-800-244-5631 and ask whether IDES can help or whether you can authorize someone to information you.

What happens if I certify but then find out I worked more hours than I reported?

Call IDES right away at 1-800-244-5631 and tell them. You can amend your certification before the payment is processed. If the payment has already gone out, you may owe money back, but correcting it yourself is better than IDES discovering the error later.

Do I have to certify if I found a job?

You must certify for the week you are still unemployed. Once you start work, you certify one final time and report your start date and earnings. After that, your claim ends and you stop certifying. If the job ends, you can reopen your claim.

What if the website is down on the last day of my certification window?

Call 1-800-244-5631 instead. IDES will certify you by phone. Have your Social Security number and the dates of your certification window ready. Get a confirmation number before you hang up.