Cut-Off Dates for Certain Unemployment Benefit Programs

Cut-Off Dates for Certain Unemployment Benefit Programs

Under current law, the number of weeks of benefits available to Illinois claimants, based on a single
application, has ranged from 26 to 99, depending upon when they initially applied for regular benefits.
The maximum 99 weeks of benefits has included 26 weeks of regular state benefits; 53 weeks of
emergency unemployment compensation (EUC), in four separate tiers of 20, 14, 13 and six weeks, and 20
weeks of extended benefits (EB).
Under the federal additional compensation (FAC) program, claimants have received an extra $25 per
week in addition to the unemployment benefits they would otherwise receive.
Under current law:
Individuals who did not exhaust regular benefits by May 22, 2010, will not qualify for EUC.
Individuals who exhausted regular benefits on May 29, 2010, potentially qualified for one week
of EB.
Individuals who exhausted an EUC tier after May 29, 2010, will not graduate to the next tier.
The EB program terminated in Illinois as of June 5, 2010.
Individuals who initiated a regular benefit claim after May 29, 2010, will not be eligible for FAC.

There have been several so far unsuccessful attempts in the U.S. Senate to pass legislation to extend the
cut-off dates for qualifying for an EUC tier, as well as the duration of the EB program in Illinois.
However, many observers now expect the Senate will have enough votes to pass an extension by the week
of July 18, when a critical Senate vacancy is expected to be filled. At this point, it does not appear that
the cut-off date for qualifying for FAC payments will be extended or that the total number of weeks
available based on a single application will be increased beyond 99.
Benefit payments to individuals with certification dates occurring the week of July 11 or 18 will be based
on current law. For example, individuals who exhausted any of the first three EUC tiers as of July 10 and
who certify on July 19 will not be paid benefits for the week ending July 17, unless and until federal
legislation is enacted to extend the cutoff date for qualifying for the next EUC tier. Claimants who will
not qualify for further payments without an extension of the cutoff dates for EUC or EB should
continue bi-weekly certification using Teleserve or the Internet on their regular certification days.
If legislation permitting further payments is passed, the Department will release payments for all
unpaid weeks for which claimants are eligible as quickly as possible.
Please check this site for further updates.
Revised: July 15, 2010