What Certification Means and Why You Do It Every Week
Certification is your weekly statement to the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) that you remain unemployed and still meet the program's requirements. You must certify every week you want to receive a benefit payment — skipping a week means no payment that week, even if you were unemployed the whole time.
Illinois requires you to certify by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. each week. The week runs Monday through Sunday. If you miss the important date, you can still certify late, but your payment will be delayed. IDES processes certifications in batches, and payments typically arrive three to five business days after you certify.
Certification is not a one-time thing. You certify every single week you claim benefits, for as long as your claim is active. If your claim expires or you return to work, you stop certifying.
Key Takeaways
- You must certify every week by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. to receive that week's payment, even if you were unemployed the entire time.
- The easiest way to certify is through the IDES website or the IDES mobile app, which takes about five minutes.
- When you certify, you report whether you worked, earned money, or refused any job offers during that week.
- If you miss the Sunday important date, you can still certify late, but your payment will be delayed by at least one week.
- Certifying falsely — saying you did not work when you did, or hiding earnings — can result in overpayment demands and fraud charges.
How to Certify Online Through the IDES Website
The online method is the fastest and most reliable. Go to www2.illinois.gov/ides and log in with your username and password. If you do not have an account yet, you will create one during your initial claim filing.
Once logged in, look for the link labeled "Certify for Benefits" or "Weekly Certification." Click it. You will see a form asking about the week you are certifying for — it will show the dates (Monday through Sunday). Answer each question honestly:
- Did you work during this week? (Yes or No)
- If yes, how many hours did you work and how much did you earn?
- Did you refuse any job offers? (Yes or No)
- If yes, explain why you refused.
- Are you still able and willing to work? (Yes or No)
After you answer all questions, review the information for accuracy, then submit. You will see a confirmation number on the screen — write it down or take a screenshot. IDES will also send you a confirmation email. Keep both for your records.
Using the IDES Mobile App to Certify
The IDES mobile app works the same way as the website and is available on both iPhone and Android. Search for "IDES" in your app store and read the official Illinois Department of Employment Security app.
Log in with the same username and password you use on the website. Tap "Certify for Benefits" and answer the same questions. The app is often faster on a phone than the website, and you can certify from anywhere — you do not need to be at a computer.
The app will also send you push notifications reminding you to certify before the Sunday important date. This is helpful if you tend to forget.
What Happens If You Work or Earn Money During the Week
You must report all work and earnings, even if it is only a few hours or a small amount. IDES does not penalize you for working — instead, they reduce your weekly benefit by a portion of what you earned.
Illinois uses a formula: for every dollar you earn above a threshold (currently $60 per week), your benefit is reduced by 50 cents. So if you earned $100 in a week, you would report $100, and IDES would subtract $20 from your benefit (because $100 minus the $60 threshold equals $40, and 50% of $40 is $20).
Report the gross amount you earned — that is, before taxes or deductions. If you are unsure of the exact amount, give your best estimate. You can correct it the following week if the actual amount was different.
Missing the Sunday important date and Certifying Late
If you do not certify by Sunday at 11:59 p.m., you can still certify on Monday, Tuesday, or later in the week. However, your payment will be delayed. IDES processes certifications in batches, and late certifications go into a later batch.
In practice, if you certify on Monday or Tuesday, you may still receive your payment by the following Friday. If you certify later in the week, expect an additional delay of several days.
Do not wait longer than one week to certify. If you certify more than one week late, IDES may flag your account and require you to contact them by phone to resolve the issue. The longer you wait, the more complicated it becomes.
What to Do If You Cannot Certify Online
If you do not have internet access or cannot use the website or app, you can certify by phone. Call the IDES Unemployment Insurance Claims line at 1-877-342-6262. The line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time.
Have your Social Security number and claim number ready. A representative will ask you the same questions as the online form. The call usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. You will receive a confirmation number by phone — write it down.
Phone certification is slower than online because you have to wait in a queue, and lines are often long on Mondays and Tuesdays. If possible, certify online or by app instead.
Common Mistakes That Delay or Deny Your Payment
Certifying late and then certifying again. Some people certify late, then certify again the following week thinking they missed the first one. This creates a duplicate, and IDES has to investigate. Certify once per week, on time or late, but not twice.
Not reporting work or earnings. IDES cross-checks your certifications against employer wage reports. If you say you did not work but your employer reports wages, IDES will flag you for fraud. Report everything, even small gig work or cash jobs.
Answering "No" to "Are you able and willing to work?" If you answer no, IDES may disqualify you for that week. Only answer no if you are genuinely unable to work (for example, you are in the hospital). If you are job searching and available, answer yes.
Refusing a job offer without a good reason. If you refuse a job and cannot explain why, IDES may deny your benefit for that week. Acceptable reasons include the job being unsuitable for your skills, the pay being below minimum wage, or the hours conflicting with childcare. Vague answers like "I was not interested" will not work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I worked part of the week and was unemployed the rest?
Report the hours and earnings for the days you worked. IDES will calculate your reduced benefit based on that income. You still receive a payment for the week, just a smaller one than if you had not worked at all.
Can I certify more than one week at a time?
No. You must certify for each week separately, and you can only certify for the current week or past weeks you have not yet certified for. You cannot certify in advance for future weeks.
What if I certify and then get a job offer the same day?
You have already certified for that week, so it does not change. Report the job in the following week's certification if you start work before the next Sunday.
Do I need to certify if my claim is on hold or under review?
No. If IDES has placed your claim on hold pending a information, you should not certify. IDES will tell you when to resume certifying. Certifying while your claim is on hold can cause confusion. Contact IDES if you are unsure whether your claim is active.
What happens if I forget to certify for two weeks in a row?
You will miss payments for both weeks. You can go back and certify for past weeks, but the payments will be delayed. If you certify more than two weeks late, IDES may require you to call and verify your information before processing the certifications.