Unemployment if you quit or were fired in Illinois
The state's rules for quitting and for being fired are different. This page gives the state's own words.
All about unemployment in Illinois
Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.
Quit, fired or refused work
If you quit
If you quit without good cause attributable to your employer, you are disqualified, unless you left for one of the reasons the law lists.
Examples the state names:
- Your health
- Sexual harassment
- Domestic violence
- The work was unsuitable
- You accepted another job
- You chose not to use bumping rights under a union contract
- To go with a spouse in the military, or a spouse who is moving for a job
If you were fired
If you were fired for misconduct connected with your work, you are disqualified. If you were fired for a felony or theft connected with your work, you can lose all benefits based on wages paid up to the date you were fired.
If benefits are denied for the separation
After a disqualification for quitting, misconduct or refusing work, you cannot get benefits until you work again and earn at least your weekly benefit amount in each of four calendar weeks, and then lose that job through no fault of your own.
Refusing work
If you fail, without good cause, to apply for or accept suitable work, you are disqualified in the same way. A job is not suitable if, for example, it is open because of a labor dispute, or its pay, hours or conditions are worse than for similar work in your area.
Law: 820 ILCS 405/601, 405/602, 405/603
Official source: Source page
You usually must be unemployed through no fault of your own. In most states this means you lost your job because there was not enough work.
Able, available and looking for work
Each week you claim, you must be able to work, available for work and actively looking for work. You must register on IllinoisJobLink.com. When you certify, you answer questions about your work search, and IDES can ask you to show your work search record.
Records to keep
Keep a written record of when and where you applied for work for each week you claim. You can use the IDES Work Search Record (ADJ034F). Keep it for at least one year (53 weeks) after the end of the week, and longer if an appeal about your work search is pending. Searches on IllinoisJobLink.com are saved there.
Law: 820 ILCS 405/500(C)
Official source: Source page
To be paid for a week, you must be able to work, available to work and actively seeking work.
Law: 42 U.S.C. 503(a)(12)
Noncitizens
What the state says
If you are not a U.S. citizen, have your Alien Registration information ready when you file. Benefits cannot be based on wages earned while you were not a permanent resident and did not have work authorization.
Common reasons for a denial and what federal law says →
Free help
Call 1-800-244-5631. Legal aid and other free help in Illinois → Official sources →
More questions about unemployment in Illinois
Can I get unemployment in Illinois if I quit?
If you quit without good cause attributable to your employer, you are disqualified, unless you left for one of the reasons the law lists.
Can I get unemployment in Illinois if I was fired?
If you were fired for misconduct connected with your work, you are disqualified. If you were fired for a felony or theft connected with your work, you can lose all benefits based on wages paid up to the date you were fired.