It’s cliche to say that dealing with bureaucracy is an aggravating experience. But then again, cliches are cliches because they’re mired in truth. The process of filing for unemployment is not a pleasant endeavor, but at least you’ve got two things working in your favor: time (of which you have plenty) and an infusion of cash (of which every little bit counts).
In an attempt to right a seriously wronged economy during the Great Depression, the U.S. government created the Social Security Act of 1935, which was funded by the Federal Unemployment Act. Unemployed individuals who met certain requirements were promised money to aid them while they looked for work. To pay for this system, businesses (but not workers) are levied an employment, or payroll, tax, which is regulated by state government and paid out as unemployment insurance benefits. So, basically, although the government is in charge of the payouts, it’s your former employer who’s footing the bill. Genius, no?
Which is why I found myself pulling into the parking lot of the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Out on my butt, it was time to cushion the blow with governmental greenbacks. Greenbacks that were only available for 26 weeks, so the clock was ticking.
Not really sure what to expect or where to go, I was pleasantly surprised to see that everything was clearly marked by huge, bilingual signs hanging from the ceiling. The signs delineated a six-step program to economic recovery. I was duly impressed with the government’s ability to cut the “healing” process in half, but unfortunately most of these steps involved filling out various repetitive forms.
– Step 1: Find out what forms you need to fill out.
– Step 2: Collect the proper forms.
– Step 3: Sit at a table and fill out your forms.
– Step 4: Sit down at a computer and fill out an online form.
– Step 5: Watch the IDES “How To Collect Unemployment” video.
– Step 6: Talk to an actual human about your completed forms, receive some informational packets and set up a phone interview with a “claims adjudicator.”
I was given a Statement of Claimant Rights, which explained that I would plead my case to the claims adjudicator, who would then speak to my old boss. If I were found ineligible, I would be given the option to appeal to a state “referee.” You know, sort of like using a red flag to counteract a yellow one in football.
Step 5 was my favorite part of the whole experience. Going against everything my wife has told me, watching television was finally aiding me in my job hunt! However, I found the acting and dialogue shaky, and the plot without dramatic tension.
My IDES Summary of Services booklet informed me that since I don’t have an eligible dependent, I couldn’t receive more than $331 a week. It’s slightly more if your spouse is unemployed, and you get another bump up if you’ve got kids.
While filling out the various forms, I tried to overthink my answers and print legibly. Horrific images of my paperwork being sent back because of a misplaced comma or missing signature had me raising my hand for help like a 4-year-old in need of a potty break.
Of course, this didn’t stop some nearsighted governmental typist from confusing a “7” for a “9” and having my first two sets of checks later sent to the wrong address. As a result, I was forced to return to the IDES office to straighten things out. This, shockingly, required more paperwork in order to inform them of the previous mistake.
My carpal tunnel aside, I’ve been assured that all is well. Every other Monday I call into the automated filing system and renew my status, punching in “1 for Yes, 3 for No” as needed.
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UP NEXT
Navigating job Web sites. Or, realizing that if the bolded listing is followed by three or more exclamation points, it may not be legit.
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Edited by Lara Weber (lweber@tribune.com) and Drew Sottardi (dsottardi@tribune.com)
