The Illinois Department of Employment Security is announcing 20 more weeks of regular state benefits are now available.
IDES spokesperson Rebecca Cisco says the extension is kicking in because of high unemployment in the state due to the pandemic.
"This is for any Illinoisan who is receiving unemployment who may have exhausted the 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. So, they're now eligible to receive the additional 20 weeks."
Cisco says if you’re already receiving benefits you won’t need to do anything else to get the extension. The extended benefits are funded by the federal government.
