Why certify for benefits
(or, why 'claim weeks' of unemployment)?
If
you do not certify, you will not receive Unemployment Insurance
benefits!
The
term “certification" is used
by IDES to describe how you claim weeks of unemployment and
receive benefits if
you are entitled. This term is used because you are “certifying” on
a biweekly basis that your answers to the questions in Tele-Serve about
your unemployment status are correct. Your answers to these
questions are factors in determining your entitlement to
benefits for the weeks for which you are claiming. >>
Click for the Tele-Serve brochure | en
Español
Note: Before any benefits can be paid on a new claim, you
must serve a non-paid "waiting
week". Electronic
payments made to eligible individuals are generally available within
2-3 business days of certification.
What if the Tele-Serve phone number is busy?
Wait. Call volume is particularly high early in the morning
(especially Mondays and Tuesdays). If the number is busy,
hang up, and try calling again in the afternoon or up to
8:30 p.m. that same day. Certifying early on your
scheduled call date doesn't make payments come any faster.
If you miss your scheduled call date, you may still call
on Thursday or Friday of the same week. You may also
call on your regular call day the following week (or Thursday
or Friday of that week).
Please remember, if you do not certify - or claim
weeks - for unemployment benefits, you will not receive
any payment.
IDES to Mail 1099s by January 31, 2009
Chicago (1/7) - Because unemployment benefits are subject to federal and state income tax, each year Form 1099-G is mailed by January 31st to those individuals who received UI benefits in the previous calendar year, using the last address on file. These documents may be forwarded, provided the Post Office has a current "mail forwarding" request on file.
What is the Tele-Serve system?
From
6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m, Monday through Friday,
including many holidays, the IDES
Tele-Serve system is
a fast, safe, reliable touch-tone phone service that enables
you to do the following from the basic menu:
Press 1 |
Claim Weeks
of Unemployment |
Press 2 |
Reopen Your Claim |
Press 3 |
Check Status Of Your
Claim |
Press 4 |
Establish or Change
Your PIN |
Press 5 |
Obtain General Information
About IDES |
When should I certify using Tele-Serve?
Approximately two weeks after you have filed
your claim you must certify the first time for benefits by
calling Tele-Serve.
Information and instructions will be mailed
indicating your Bi-Weekly Certification Call Day and the
date you should first call Tele-Serve to certify. If
you do not receive this information sheet within two weeks
from the date your claim was filed, contact your local office
immediately.
After your first certification, you will continue
to call Tele-Serve on a biweekly basis on your call day.
Your specific date to call Tele-Serve will be printed on
your Statement of Certification which will be mailed to you
after each time you certify. >> more
on this process for those who filed an internet claim
What are the phone numbers?
Statewide
Tele-Serve number
(including
callers in the Chicago area)
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TDD
(Hearing Impaired)
(Hours
for TDD-only: 8:30 - 5:00 on regular business
days)
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Unemployment benefits and taxes
Federal tax form 1099-G's are mailed at the
end of January each year to those individuals who received
UI benefits in the previous calendar year. These documents
may be forwarded, provided
the U.S. Post Office has a current
"mail forwarding" request on file.
Claimants who have not received their 1099 form should
also contact the local
office where their claim was filed for more information,
assistance, or to update their IDES address record.
Some individuals may be able to obtain a new form through
Tele-Serve.
When
you call, be sure to have your:
-
social
security number
-
personal
identification number (PIN)
-
earnings
before taxes
-
your latest Statement
of Certification
-
Paper and pencil to record any information given to you
during your call
Certification Questions You Will Be Asked:
-
Have
you received or will you receive holiday pay? (Have
holiday pay amount available)
-
Did
you work? (Have earnings before taxes available)
-
Has
your dependency status changed?
-
Were
you able to work and available for work?
-
Did
you actively look for work?
-
Are
you receiving or have you applied for a Social Security
pension?
-
Other
than Social Security, are you receiving or have
you applied for a retirement or disability pension?
-
Are
you attending school or receiving training?
-
Have
you claimed or will you receive workers' compensation
for a temporary disability?
Address and
name changes:
-
Has your phone number
changed? Enter your new ten-digit telephone
number; Tele-Serve will read it back to you for
verification. Confirm if correct.
-
Has your mailing address
or name changed?
-
Call your Local Office
during business hours to report address and name changes.
Tele-Serve will tell
you the number to call or see the directory
of local offices.
Important
things to remember about Tele-Serve
Do not hang up until
Tele-Serve tells you your claim has been accepted:
"This ends your filing at this time."
Guard your PIN: you are
responsible for all activity on your claim! Record
your work search efforts each week on the
form provided by IDES.
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