As soon as you become unemployed, seek unemployment benefits immediately with the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Apply in person or online. You will be required to provide your social security number and register for Skill Set, a job searching tool in order to receive benefits. You will be required to log your activity and report it as such on a bi-weekly basis via a corded, landline touchtone phone.

IDES provides financial assistance while you are unemployed. Your amount may be reduced by holiday (work) pay, workers compensation or social security payments such as pension, retirement or disability. Benefits may be denied if you quit your job voluntarily.

DES also provides training, financial resources for training and other events. Visit www.ides.state.il.us or their McHenry or Kane County offices.

COBRA
If you lose your job between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009, you are only responsible for 35% of the COBRA payment for up to nine months.  Your employer must pay 65% of the premium which will be reimbursed to them by the federal government.  Even if you selected not to take COBRA immediately, your former employer has the responsibility of contacting you to give you the option to now enroll in COBRA.