unemployment benefits and options for dislocated workers

1. Unemployment Benefits and Options for Dislocated Workers

3. State Partners Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) Illinois Board of Higher Education(IBHE) Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)

4. Local Partners Local Workforce Investment Boards Local Workforce Investment Areas’ Illinois workNet Centers WIA mandated partners Illinois Department of Employment Security offices Illinois Department of Human Services offices Education and training entities Service providers Community-based organizations other organizations and agencies such as libraries

5. WIA Overview The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) combines federally funded employment and training programs into a workforce development system where adults, dislocated workers, and youth can locate jobs or train for new careers.

6. WIA provides workforce investment activities for the purpose of increasing the employment, retention and earnings of participants, and to increase occupational skill attainment by participants These activities will improve the quality of the workforce, reduce welfare dependency, and enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the Nation’s economy WIA Overview

7. WIA Overview Core services Includes outreach, job search and placement assistance, and labor market information available to all job seekers; Intensive services Includes more comprehensive assessments, development of individual employment plans, and counseling and career planning; and Training services Customers are linked to job opportunities in their communities, including both occupational training and training in basic skills. Participants use an "individual training account" to select an appropriate training program from a qualified training provider.

8. 8 Illinois workNet Centers are one stop service centers assisting individuals to find services they need and helping employers meet their human resource requirements. There are 26 Local Workforce Investment Areas with almost 50 comprehensive centers Illinois workNet® Centers

11. Illinois workNet® Portal

12. Illinois workNet®

14. WIA Funding Funding allocations to LWIBs are based on a formula developed by USDOL Illinois does not have the authority to alter the formula/allocation Inflation-adjusted funding levels for WIA have seen no significant increase over the past three years

15. WIA Funding Formula Allocation Calculation Factors include: Total unemployment Total long-term (over 15 weeks) unemployment population Economically disadvantaged population Share of declining industries

16. WARN Protection to workers, their families and communities Requires the employer to give 60 days advance notice of covered plant closings and covered mass layoffs Applies to employers with 75 or more full-time employees (this is Illinois law)

17. WARN What triggers a notice 25 or more full-time employees are laid off and it constitutes one-third or more of the full-time employees at the site, or 250 or more full-time employees Notice must be provided to either affected workers or their representatives (e.g., a labor union); to the State dislocated worker unit; and to the appropriate unit of local government. 17

18. When a person loses his or her job through no fault of their own, the workforce system refers to them as dislocated worker. Dislocated Worker

19. Dislocated Worker 19 A dislocated worker is Unlikely to return to prior industry or occupation Laid off or terminated due to plant closure or substantial layoff Formerly self-employed but now unemployed Displaced homemaker

20. Illinois Unemployment Insurance Workers who become unemployed, may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance. The program is designed to partially compensate workers for loss of wages when their unemployment is due to no fault of their own. Illinois Unemployment Insurance is funded by tax dollars collected from Illinois employers.

21. How to File A worker should file a claim in the first week they are unemployed. Initial claims are filed via the Internet at www.ides.state.il.us or The nearest Dept of Employment Security office. To find the nearest office, call 1-888-367-4382. In Illinois, most IDES offices are part of the Illinois workNet Center.

22. How to File Documentation required when filing a claim Social Security card or identification containing SSN. If filing via Internet, the SSN and name are validated by SSA. Work history with employer addresses for past 18 months. Dependent children or dependent spouse SSN.

23. Unemployment Claim An unemployment claim is in effect for one year (benefit year). Initial claim filed November 1, 2010. The benefit year is October 31, 2010 though October 30, 2011. The weekly benefit amount for this benefit year will be based on wages paid in the first four of the last five completed quarters Benefit year begins in Oct-Dec 2010, the base period is July, 2009 through June, 2010. Wages in base period must total at least $1600 with $440 outside the highest quarter of wages.

24. Unemployment Claim Weekly Benefit Amount in Illinois Based on wages in the two highest quarters of base period. Ranges from $51 to $385.

25. Unemployment Claim Maximum Benefit Amount The maximum amount of regular benefits on a benefit year claim is 26 x the Weekly Benefit Amount. If the worker is receiving the highest possible weekly amount plus dependent child allowance, $531 total per week, they can receive up to $13, 806 of regular benefits.

26. Extended Benefits Current Federal and State legislation allows for Illinois to pay extended benefits Emergency Unemployment Insurance allows an individual to receive up to 53 additional weeks of benefits once they have exhausted regular benefits. The 53 weeks are divided into 4 Tiers. To qualify for EUC 08, the worker must have earned wages in the base period totaling 1 ½ times their highest base period quarter wages. All state eligibility criteria must be met for EUC 08.

27. Extended Benefits State Extended Benefits Workers who exhausted both regular and federal extended benefits may be eligible for up to 20 weeks of state extended benefits. All state eligibility criteria must be met. Additional criteria includes: Weekly systematic and sustained work search Not refuse an offer of work that pays minimum wage or the individual’s benefit amount, whichever is higher NOTE - If attending approved training, the additional criteria is not required.

28. Extended Benefits Under the current legislation, EUC 08 is due to sunset November 30, 2010. If an individual is on an EUC Tier, they will be paid the remainder of that Tier, but not the subsequent Tiers. If an individual is on State Extended Benefits, they will be allowed to continue until exhaustion.

29. Potential Disqualifications Not every worker is eligible to receive unemployment insurance. The Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act and the Dept of Employment Security Administrative Rules set forth eligibility provisions.

30. Potential Disqualifications Voluntary leave Quit a job without good cause attributable to the employer Exceptions when not attributable Health, on the advise of a physician Acceptance of another job Unsuitable work once recently accepted Failure to exercise bumping rights Sexual harassment Domestic violence Accompany a spouse that has been transferred

31. Potential Disqualifications Discharge for misconduct connected with work. Discharge for felony or theft Refusal of work failed to apply for or accept suitable work suitable work is considered to be work that an individual is qualified to perform and the wage, hours, and other conditions are not less favorable than similar work in the labor market.

32. Potential Disqualifications Once an individual is denied for a reason of separation or refusal of work they must have subsequent employment and earn at least their weekly benefit amount in each of 4 weeks to re-qualify for benefits.

33. Potential Disqualifications Employment Status An unemployed worker may accept part time work and continue to receive partial benefits As long as the weekly part time gross earnings do not exceed the workers weekly benefit amount and they continue to seek employment. The amount of the week’s gross earnings over one-half of weekly benefit amount is deducted from the weekly benefits.

34. Potential Disqualifications Disqualifying Income Vacation pay Holiday pay Retirement pay if contributed by an employer that is in the base period or is the chargeable employer on the claim Social Security Workman’s Compensation (may raise availability issue)

35. Potential Disqualifications Able, Available, and Actively Seeking An individual must be able and available to accept suitable employment. An individual must make an active search for work weekly and keep a record of the work search including dates, employers, method, and results. There is no minimum number of contact required. Actively seeking is determined by type of work, method, and labor market conditions.

36. Potential Disqualifications Attending School Raises question of availability if principal occupation is student Part time school attendance during non-normal work hours and continuing to seek work does not deem the individual unavailable. Schooling can be considered “approved training” under certain conditions.

37. Approved Training An individual enrolled in and in regular attendance of approved training is considered available and actively seeking employment. Also, the individual cannot be held ineligible for benefits if refuses employment will attending approved training.

38. Approved Training Approval of Training Individuals in an approved WIA (Workforce Investment Act) funded training program are considered in approved training. Approval of WIA funded courses is assigned to Local Workforce Investment Boards, which is under the jurisdiction of Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

39. Approved Training Approval of training funded by sources other than WIA is the responsibility of IDES. The local office representative can approve a specific course for an individual under certain conditions.

40. Approved Training Training approval criteria Course relates to an occupation or skill for which there are immediate work opportunities. Vocational or provide specific skill One year or less in duration Consist of at least 12 hours per week of instruction Course offered by reliable educational institution or employing unit. Work opportunities for which the individual is already qualified do not exist in labor market. Individual has qualifications to complete course successfully.

41. Other Services Offered by IDES Illinois Skills Match Internet based Employment Service that matches individuals to jobs. Filing a claim will create a partial registration with Illinois Skills Match Individuals can complete the registration with their skills Matching is automatic and if the skills match job openings, individuals will be notified of possible openings.

42. Other Services (cont.) Labor Market Information Local area unemployment statistics Employment projections Occupational wages Quarterly census of employment & wages Local employment dynamics Career resources www.ILWorkInfo.com

43. Contact Information Lisa Jones Manager of WIA Policy Unit Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity 217-558-2443 Lisa.d.Jones@illinois.gov Susan Armstrong Pekin Local Office Manager Illinois Dept of Employment Security 309-346-4171 x237 Susan.Armstrong@illinois.gov Linda Fortado Adjudication Quality Manager Illinois Dept of Employment Security 217-782-0159 Linda.Fortado@illinois.gov