IDES releases new instructions for 1099 workers who lost jobs due to COVID-19

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) released new instructions for 1099 workers who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic. These instructions are for the employees who think they may be eligible for the benefits under the Pandemic unemployment Assistance (PUA) program.

According to the instructions, these workers must have to apply for the regular unemployment insurance before applying for the benefits under the PUA program. The IDES announced the opening of a new application submission portal on its website. The portal will start receiving the applications on May 11, 2020.

If claimants receive an eligibility determination of $0, then they can provide the verification of their regular wages to appeal that decision. They can also submit a claim to acquire PUA benefits. The claimants who have been denied regular unemployment benefits can submit a claim through the new portal. The eligibility for the PUA benefits is dependent on the denial of the regular unemployment benefit.

The claimants get an opportunity to choose how they want to receive benefits if they file for regular unemployment. The eligible claimants can choose the option of direct deposit or a debit card deposit to receive the benefits. It takes one to two weeks to receive benefits through debit cards, while the direct deposit takes two to three days, according to the IDES.

The PUA program is a funding program for the workers who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and if they are not eligible for the state’s regular unemployment insurance program. These regular unemployment insurance programs include the Extended Benefit (EB) program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program. The claimants can get up to 39 weeks’ worth of benefits under this program. The implementation and maintenance of the PUA portal will be carried by Deloitte as it has been contracted by the IDES for this purpose.