Tele-Serve Hours 3:00 am - 7:30 pm Monday through Friday IDES

Certify for Unemployment Benefits by Phone

State of Illinois

Department of Employment Security

Tele-Serve Hours

3:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday

IDES Claimant Services

1-800-244-5631

Once you file for unemployment

insurance, you must then “certify” to your

eligibility for benefits. The best way to

certify for benefits is the internet. You can

certify for benefits online at

ides.illinois.gov/certify.

With Tele-Serve, you can:

• Certify for unemployment insurance

benefits

• Check the status of your

unemployment insurance claim

• Request federal income tax form 1099-G

• Obtain other IDES information

If you do not certify, you will not receive

your unemployment insurance benefits.

Save time:

Certify for unemployment

benefits by phone!

Call Tele-Serve: (312) 338-4337

Available

Monday through Friday

3:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

TTY: (800) 662-3943

Monday through Friday

8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

1. File for unemployment benefits over the

phone or online at ides.illinois.gov.

2. IDES will mail you a UI Finding letter with

your assigned certification day. If you do

not receive this information within two

weeks from the date you filed your claim,

contact Claimant Services.

3. Call Tele-Serve on your scheduled

certification day every two weeks.

• The first time you call, you will create a

personal identification number (PIN).

Save this PIN. You will need it every

time you call.

• Enter your PIN and answer the

automated questions using a touch-

tone phone.

Three steps to use Tele-Serve

When you call, have the following information

available:

• Your Social Security number and your PIN

• Any gross wages you earned (before

taxes and holiday pay) during this

certification period

• Paper and pencil to record any information

given to you during your call

If you cannot certify via telephone because

you do not speak or read either English or

Spanish, or you do not have access to a

touch-tone phone, contact Claimant Services

within one week after filing your claim to

arrange for special accommodations.

After certifying, please allow for 8 days

before receiving your benefits via paper

check, or 2-3 days for direct deposit.

If you miss your regular call day (Monday,

Tuesday or Wednesday), you may still call on

Thursday or Friday of that same week. You

may also call on your regular call day in the

following week (or Thursday or Friday of that

week). Payment of benefits will be based on

certifying for benefits in a timely manner and

meeting the eligibility requirements of the

Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act.

• Write down and keep your PIN. You will

need it every time you call in. Your PIN is

valid for your entire benefit year.

• The PIN Maintenance option on Tele-

Serve allows you to change your PIN if

you feel it is no longer secure.

• If you forget your PIN, contact Claimant

Services to have your PIN reset.

If You Miss your Call Day

Keep your PIN!

Note: Your PIN has the same legal effect as

your signature has on a paper document. DO

NOT give your PIN to anyone. If you believe

someone knows your PIN or if you forget your

PIN, call Claimant Services immediately. The

existing PIN will be reset so that you can

establish a new PIN by phone. Do not reveal

your PIN to anyone. IDES personnel do not

have access to your PIN; they can only reset

it. It is your responsibility to ensure that your

PIN is not misused.

Press

To claim weeks of unemployment

To reopen your claim

Check the status of your claim (also

benefits reported to the IRS)

Establish or change your PIN

IDES general information

Certification Questions

• Have you received or will you receive

holiday pay during the period of Sunday

[week 1 beginning date] through Saturday

[week 2 ending date]? (Have holiday pay

amount available.)

• Did you work during the period of Sunday

[week 1 beginning date] through Saturday

[week 2 ending date]? (Have earnings

before taxes available.)

Quick Guide

Menu Options

(312) 338-4337

• Has your dependency status changed

during this certification period?

• Were you able and available to work each

week?

• Did you actively look for work for the

week of Sunday [week 1 beginning date]

through Saturday [week 2 ending date]?

• Did you attend school or receive training?

• Do you have a current workers’

compensation claim or do you expect

to receive workers’ compensation for a

temporary disability?

• Has your phone number changed?

• Has your mailing address or name

changed? (Note: Extended Benefit

claimants will be asked additional

questions.)

If you earned more than your weekly benefit

amount in any week you must reopen your

claim. Tele-Serve will reopen your claim

automatically if you meet certain

requirements.

Address and Name Changes

• Postal service will not forward IDES mail.

• Call IDES Claimant Services during

business hours.

• Tele-Serve will tell you the number to call.

Nondiscrimination

IDES is an equal opportunity employer and complies

with all state and federal nondiscrimination laws in

the administration of its programs. Auxiliary aids and

services are available upon request to individuals with

disabilities. Contact the office manager of the IDES

office nearest you or the IDES Equal Opportunity Officer

at (312) 793-9290 or TTY (telephone line for people who

are deaf) (888) 340-1007.

Note: The information contained in this brochure is

subject to change at any time. For the latest information,

visit the IDES website at ides.illinois.gov

State of Illinois

Illinois Department of Employment Security

33 S. State Street

Chicago, IL 60603-2901

(800) 244-5631, TTY (800) 526-0844

www.ides.illinois.gov

Printed by authority of the State of Illinois

Stock #4312 Rev. 05-2022

Important!

• Do not hang up until Tele-Serve tells

you your claim has been accepted.

• Guard your PIN. You are responsible

for all activity on your claim.

• Record your work search efforts

each week on the form provided

by IDES.