Do you have an issue with an employee who is claiming unemployment insurance benefits, but when you call the IDES local office, you inevitably end up stuck in the automated phone system maze? Do you just want to speak with a human who can help you with your questions?

Don’t worry. We have experience with the IDES, and have discovered some tips we are willing to share.

Below are Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) phone numbers where we succeeded in speaking with an actual human every time:

Employer Hotline:

312 793 4880, option 1
1 800 247 4984, option 1

 

Let us know if these numbers worked for you in the comments below!

 

COVID-19 Update:

March 20th, 2020: Unfortunately, we’ve heard that the IDES is not likely to answer the phone at all during this time. However, we’ve put together some resources to answer common unemployment questions during the Coronavirus crisis:

June 23rd, 2020: The number we had listed for the Regional Manager was out of date. We’ve removed it.

Michelle Green is a general practice and Chicago small business lawyer with G &G Law.