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Possible online services disruption due to Internet related outage

A worldwide technology outage is causing disruption to some State of Illinois online systems.  We are aware of this issue and are diligently working on restoration.

IDES offices will be closed Monday, October 14 for the federal holiday, but you can still certify and apply for benefits and access other online resources!  Please note that benefit payments may take longer to process during this time.  Offices will reopen for regular business hours on Tuesday, October 15.

Overpayments

To receive important letters about overpayment recovery waivers, please ensure your mailing address is updated in your IDES account. 

Overpayment Information

An overpayment may occur when a claimant is paid unemployment insurance benefits and is later found to not be eligible for those benefits.

Common reasons for an overpayment include but are not limited to:

  • A claimant does not report, or underreports, wages or pension benefits when filing a weekly claim, and later information is received with the corrected wages or pension benefits.
  • As the result of an eligibility issue, such as an employer successfully challenging that an employee was fired for misconduct, and IDES finds that the employee was ineligible for benefits.
  • An adjustment is made to a claim that changes the amount of benefits due to the claimant for specific weeks.

Unless you are eligible for a waiver of overpayment, you are required to pay back any overpayments.

Glossary

Equity and Good Conscience: As defined in the Administrative Rules, recovery of the overpayment will be considered to be against equity and good conscience if: (1) It would cause financial hardship to the person from whom it is sought; (2) Regardless of the recipient's financial circumstances, the recipient can show that, based on the overpayment or notice that a benefit payment would be made, the recipient has: (A) relinquished a valuable right; or (B) changed positions for the worse; or (3) Recovery would be unconscionable under the circumstances.

Overpayment: Benefits received for which an individual is found to have been ineligible.

Overpayment Amount: The sum of the overpayment.

Overpayment Balance: Balance of an overpayment remaining to be repaid or recouped.