Weekly benefit amount and weeks in Illinois

The weekly benefit

Weekly benefit

$51–$628

Maximum: benefit years and weeks of unemployment beginning on or after January 1, 2026

How it is figured

Your weekly benefit amount is 47% of your average weekly wage in the two quarters of your base period when you were paid the most. IDES adds the wages of those two quarters, divides by 26, and takes 47%, rounded up to the next dollar. IDES's official table shows the amount for each wage range. For 2026 the amount is $51 to $628 a week, before any dependent allowance.

Dependents

If you have a dependent child or a non-working spouse, IDES adds a dependent allowance. For 2026 the most you can get with a dependent spouse is $748 a week, and with a dependent child $859 a week. The allowance is a percentage of your earlier average weekly wage. You cannot claim both a spouse and a child.

Official

Official table or notice

Law: 820 ILCS 405/401

The wage test

You must have been paid at least $1,600 in your base period, and at least $440 of it outside the quarter when your wages were highest.

Your base period is usually the first four of the last five full calendar quarters before your claim starts. If you do not have enough wages in that period, IDES can use the alternate base period: the last four full calendar quarters. The alternate base period is only used to help you qualify, not to raise your weekly amount.

The state's wage tests

• $1,600 in your base period, with at least $440 outside your highest quarter — At least $440 of base-period wages paid outside the highest quarter

Law: 820 ILCS 405/237, 405/500(E)

Official source: Source page

Estimate your weekly benefit

Enter the gross wages (before taxes) you were paid in each quarter of your base period. We apply the state's own table and formula to your numbers.

The state's formula: a table up to $34,696.99; above that, the total of your two highest quarters × 47% ÷ 26, rounded up; at least $51 and at most $628

How long it lasts

Up to 26 weeks.

You can get up to 26 full weeks of benefits in your benefit year. The most you can get is 26 times your weekly benefit amount plus any dependent allowance, or your total base-period wages, whichever is smaller.

Law: 820 ILCS 405/403

Official source: Source page

Waiting week

You must serve one unpaid waiting week. It is usually the first week you claim. Benefits are not paid for this week.

Law: 820 ILCS 405/500(D)

Official source: Source page

Working part time

You can get partial benefits in a week you work less than full time because of lack of work, if your gross earnings are less than your weekly benefit amount. Earnings up to half of your weekly benefit amount do not reduce your check. IDES subtracts the part of your earnings above half of your weekly benefit amount, and rounds the result up to the next dollar. Any dependent allowance is added after that. If you work full time, you cannot get benefits for that week even if you earned less than your weekly amount.

Earnings not deducted (as the data states it)

An amount equal to 50% of your earnings that week is not deducted.

Law: 820 ILCS 405/402

Official source: Source page

What applies in every state

• You must have earned enough wages, or worked enough, during a period called the base period. In most states it is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file.
• It generally takes two to three weeks after you file to get your first payment. Some states require a one-week waiting period, so the second week you claim is the first week paid.
• Unemployment benefits count as income for federal income tax. You must report them on your federal tax return.

  Law: 26 U.S.C. 85(a)

Free help

Call 1-800-244-5631. Legal aid and other free help in Illinois → Official sources →