Do you need information on how to apply for unemployment in Illinois? If you've been laid off, you should file for Illinois unemployment as soon as possible, so that you can receive any benefits that you are entitled to. Read on to learn how to file for unemployment in Illinois.

Illinois unemployment is a joint federal-state program. Unemployment insurance in Illinois is administered by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. It is used to help those who have been laid off from their job receive temporary assistance in order to help cover bills and essential needs. Note that those who collect unemployment benefits are expected to actively seek out employment so that they may soon become self-sufficient.

Not everyone who suffers the loss of a job may qualify to receive unemployment benefits. There are several requirements that must first be met. In order to be eligible to collect unemployment in the state of Illinois, you must:

1. You must have worked as an employee in Illinois for a covered company in the first four of the last five calendar quarters
2. You must not have been fired for cause of your own, and you must also not have left your job voluntarily
3. You must be able to work and also be actively seeking employment in order to continue to receive your benefits

Before you begin the application process, it is important hat you have all of the necessary information gathered. You will need to be able to provide the following in order to process your claim:

1. Social Security Number and your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card
2. Social Security Number, date of birth and name of any dependents
3. Names, mailing addresses, employment dates, and separation reason for all employers worked for during the past 18 months
4. If you are not a United States citizen, your Alien Registration Number
5. If you worked since Sunday of the week your are filing, the amount of gross wages earned this weekhttp://www.ides.state.il.us/individual/faq.asp

• You can file for Illinois unemployment online, providing you have the following software installed and operational on your computer:

1. Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, with cookies enabled. IE is the only browser supported by the Illinois unemployment system.
2. Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows Millennium Edition
3. Adobe Reader version 4.0 or later.

• You can also file a claim in person at your local Illinois Department of Employment Security office, from 8:30-5pm, Monday through Friday. If you do not have Internet access, or the Web browser that you are currently using does not support the Illinios unemployment insurance online application, filing in person may be your best option.http://www.ides.state.il.us/individual/online_claim.asp

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional financial advice. Please contact your financial adviser before using the information presented here.