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As of July 8, 2026, IDES will no longer send benefit payments via paper check. You may select direct deposit or debit card as your method for receiving benefit payments. If you were receiving paper checks, you will be switched over to debit card payments unless you choose to enroll in direct deposit.

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UI Benefit Handbook - Final Tips

This section covers:

  • Report Your Return to Work IMMEDIATELY!
  • Final Tips for Filing
  • Benefits May Be Taxable
  • Your Social Security Number Is Required
  • Nondiscrimination

Report Your Return to Work IMMEDIATELY!

Employers are required to report all new hires to IDES. These reports are used to identify individuals who are collecting unemployment insurance benefits after they have returned to work. Failure to report your return to work or all gross wages earned during weeks covered by your certification will result in an overpayment of benefits, and potentially a determination of fraud that entails penalty weeks, comptroller’s offset of state payments (such as state income tax refunds and lottery winnings) and prosecution for state benefits fraud.

 

Final Tips for Filing

Remember to do the following to ensure that your unemployment insurance application is processed smoothly.

  1. Always provide your name, address and Social Security number or Claimant ID whenever you communicate with IDES staff.
  2. Certify on your assigned day.
  3. Continue to certify even if an eligibility interview or appeal hearing is being conducted.
  4. Be available at the time of any scheduled telephone interview.
  5. Be patient awaiting your first benefit payment. IDES pays benefits in a timely manner. After that, benefit payments should occur every two weeks, as long as you remember to certify your claim on your assigned day.

Benefits May Be Taxable

Your unemployment insurance benefits may be fully taxable on your state and federal income tax returns. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 amended the law to make unemployment insurance benefits taxable if you are required to file a state or federal tax return. You may elect to have federal and/or State of Illinois income taxes deducted and withheld from your unemployment insurance benefit payments. Deductions are made at predetermined levels: 10% for federal income tax and 4.95% for state income tax.

If you do not elect to have federal and/or State of Illinois income taxes deducted and withheld from your unemployment insurance benefit payments, you may be required to make estimated tax payments using Internal Revenue Service Form 1040ES and the Illinois Department of Revenue form, IL 1040ES. IDES will provide you with IRS Form 1099-G, a statement of benefits paid to you at the end of each calendar year.

If you elect to have federal and/or State of Illinois income taxes deducted and withheld from your unemployment insurance benefit payments, the Form 1099-G will reflect the total amount deducted and withheld for that calendar year. The Internal Revenue Service and Illinois Revenue Department will be given the same information.

 

Your Social Security Number Is Required

You will be asked to furnish your Social Security number when filing your claim online or over the phone. Your Social Security number is solicited under the authority of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [26 U.S.C. 85, 6011(a), 6050B and 6109(a)]. Disclosure of your Social Security number for this purpose is mandatory, and it must be entered on the online forms you submit to claim unemployment insurance benefits. The validity of the Social Security number you provide will be verified with the Social Security Administration.

Your Social Security number will be used to report your unemployment insurance benefits to the Internal Revenue Service as income that is potentially taxable. It will also be used as a record index for processing your claim for statistical purposes and to verify your eligibility for unemployment insurance and other public assistance benefits. Should you decline to disclose your Social Security number, your claim for unemployment insurance will not be processed. 

 

Nondiscrimination

IDES is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal nondiscrimination laws in the administration of its programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Contact your IDES office manager or the IDES Equal Opportunity Officer at (312) 793-9290 or TTY (888) 340-1007.

Claimant Services:
TTY: (866) 488-4016
Voice: (800) 244-5631

Tele-Serve: Voice:
(312) 338-4337

Illinois Relay Service:
TTY: (800) 526-0844 or 711
Voice: (800) 526-0857 or 711