If you lose your job in Illinois, the state’s unemployment insurance (UI) program replaces a portion of your lost wages while you look for work. The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) bases your weekly benefit amount on your earnings during a defined base period, then adds an allowance if you support dependents. This estimator applies the official 47% formula so you can see roughly what you might receive each week.
How it works
Illinois sets your benefit from your two highest-earning quarters:
- Find your two highest quarters. Among the four quarters of your base period, the tool picks the two with the largest wages.
- Apply the 47% formula. Add those two quarters and take 47% of the total, then divide by 26:
WBA = (Q1 + Q2) × 0.47 ÷ 26. This approximates 47% of your average weekly wage in your best half-year. - Add a dependent allowance. If you support a dependent spouse or dependent children, a percentage of the statewide average weekly wage is added, subject to a higher maximum.
- Apply the maximum. The result is capped at the state maximum weekly benefit amount for your dependent category.
Benefits are payable for up to 26 weeks in a benefit year.
Tips and example
Suppose your two highest base-period quarters were $12,000 and $10,000. Their sum is $22,000; 47% is $10,340; divided by 26 gives a base weekly benefit of about $398. With a dependent child the allowance raises it further, up to the higher dependent maximum.
To collect, you must have earned enough in your base period (Illinois requires at least $1,600 total with $440 outside your highest quarter), remain able and available for work, and certify every two weeks. This is an estimate — your official benefit comes from IDES based on employer-reported wage records.