Unemployment offices closed next 2 Mondays

[February 11, 2012]  CHICAGO -- The offices of the Illinois Department of Employment Security will be closed the next two Mondays, Feb. 13 and 20, in observance of state and federal holidays. Feb. 13 is a state holiday honoring President Abraham Lincoln. Feb. 20 is a federal and state holiday honoring President George Washington. It also is referred to as Presidents Day.

Offices will reopen on the following day each week: Tuesday, Feb. 14, and Tuesday, Feb. 21. Office hours are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Because Feb. 20 is a federal banking holiday, some benefit payments might be delayed. The IDES does not determine federal banking holidays.

Although IDES offices will be closed two Mondays, services will remain available online at www.ides.illinois.gov. Individuals will be able to file for first-time unemployment benefits, certify for benefits -- which is necessary to receive payment -- and switch the method of payment to direct deposit.

IDES customers also can use the website to manage their benefit payments. For benefit payments, the department encourages direct deposit. Direct deposit is a simple, smart and secure way to receive benefits. Debit cards also are available. There are no fees associated with a debit card at point-of-service counters that accept MasterCard, such as grocery stores, drugstores and convenience stores. Cash is available after qualifying purchases. Fees likely will be assessed with out-of-network ATM machines.

Career planning, training and job placement assistance also are available through the website. The services encourage individuals to assess their current skills and identify the training or education needed to augment those skills so they can find meaningful work.

The Department of Employment Security also administers tax credits and bonding programs that reward employers who hire specific workers, such as military veterans and the formerly incarcerated. The department hosts workshops to help employers better understand how insurance claims are evaluated, what is required to successfully challenge a claim, and other services to help businesses evaluate current and future growth potential.

IDES supports economic stability by administering unemployment benefits, collecting business contributions to fund those benefits, connecting employers with qualified job seekers, and providing economic information to assist career planning and economic development. It does so through nearly 60 offices across the state, including the Illinois workNet Centers.

[Text from Illinois Emergency Management Agency news release received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]