IDES Reminding Claimants Federal Unemployment Benefit Programs Ending September 4, 2021
PUA, FPUC, PEUC, MEUC Coming to Close, State’s Regular Unemployment Program Unaffected

[August 21, 2021]   The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) is reminding claimants that federal unemployment programs are coming to an end on September 4, 2021.

These programs include:

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

Provided access to 100% federally funded unemployment benefits to individuals not traditionally eligible to receive unemployment benefits, such self-employed workers.

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

Provided an additional weekly $300 supplemental payment in 100% federally funded benefits to claimants who received at least $1 of regular or federal unemployment benefits.

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

Provided additional weeks of 100% federally funded unemployment benefits to claimants who exhausted all eligible weeks of benefits in the state’s regular unemployment system.

Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC)

Provided an additional weekly $100 supplemental payment in 100% federally funded benefits to eligible claimants who earned at least $5,000 in self-employment income in addition to wages earned with a chargeable employer.

The expiration of these programs has no impact on the state’s regular unemployment system or the claimants receiving regular unemployment benefits.

IDES is also reminding claimants to access their IllinoisJobLink.com account. IllinoisJobLink.com is an employment website with more than 100,000 job postings and can be used as a tool by jobseekers to find their next employment opportunity. Claimants who have applied for unemployment benefits already have a username and password for the site and are encouraged to login and finish registration and create or upload a resume.

As the economy continues to heal from the pandemic, individuals may still be in need of ongoing or additional assistance and resources from the state. The following departments and their programs may be able to assist:

Illinois Department of Human Services

o Cash assistance
o Childcare
o House services
o Food assistance (SNAP, WIC, and more)

Illinois Housing Development Authority

o Rental Assistance
o Homeowner Assistance

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

o LIHEAP

Get Covered Illinois

o Health insurance

More information about resources and assistance can be found on the state’s Covid-19 resource page or on the IDES website.

[Illinois Office of Communication and Information]