Unemployment recipients given options on missing checks         

[AUG. 22, 2006]  CHICAGO -- Brenda A. Russell, director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, expressed her concern and outlined two options for clients who have not received their Aug. 14 unemployment checks due to a U.S. Postal Service error:

"We at IDES share your frustration if you are among the unemployment insurance benefit check recipients missing your check dated Aug. 14, 2006. Although the U.S. Postal Service admits that they received delivery of checks of ZIP codes 60900 through 62999, they have not yet been able to identify the location or time of delivery to the recipients.

"We share two options for you to consider. You can go to our office with two pieces of identification and request a replacement check. By requesting a replacement check, you will have to sign a form indicating that you will not cash the check dated 8-14-06. If you request a replacement check, it will be processed and handed over to the U.S. Postal Service the next day. Your other option is to wait to see if you receive the check currently missing at the U.S. Postal Service. While we are hopeful these will be delivered by the Postal Service in the next few days, we cannot provide a guarantee.

"IDES is keenly aware that you need these funds and that many of you were anticipating using those funds for monthly bill paying. We intend to pressure the U.S. Postal Service for answers to why this has happened, even if the checks are properly delivered in the coming days."

Please contact your local IDES office for information on filing for a replacement check. Local office locations are available at www.ides.state.il.us.

Also, in an effort to improve service, delivery and convenience to those qualified for unemployment insurance benefits in Illinois, the Department of Employment Security announced last week the availability of direct deposit of unemployment insurance payments statewide. The direct deposit system places the funds in the claimant's bank account within two days after the individual certifies for benefits. [Related article]

Unemployment insurance benefit payees who have bank accounts can begin direct deposit services by stopping by their local IDES office, filling out a form and submitting it along with a voided check. The form is also available online at http://www.ides.state.il.us/pdf/forms/
direct_deposit/authorization.pdf.

[To download Adobe Acrobat Reader for the PDF file, click here.]

[Illinois Department of Employment Security news release]