Illinois Unemployment Calculator

How to Use the Illinois Unemployment Calculator

This guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to use the Illinois Unemployment Calculator to estimate your unemployment benefits. The calculator requires specific inputs to generate the results. Follow the steps below to ensure accurate calculations.

Step 1: Enter Your Average Weekly Income

• Locate the input field labeled Average Weekly Income (before taxes).
• Enter your average weekly income in this field. This should be the amount you earned before taxes.
• The input is required and must be a number between 0 and 10,000.

Step 2: Specify the Number of Dependents

• Find the input field labeled Number of Dependents.
• Input the number of dependents you have. This number should be between 0 and 20.
• This field is also required and can only accept whole numbers.

Step 3: Select Your Employment Status

• Look for the dropdown menu labeled Employment Status.
• Select the option that best describes your current employment condition: Completely Unemployed or Partially Unemployed.
• This step is crucial as it affects benefit calculations.

Step 4: Enter Current Weekly Earnings (If Applicable)

• If you selected Partially Unemployed in Step 3, a field labeled Current Weekly Earnings (if partially employed) will be enabled.
• Enter your current weekly earnings in this field. The amount should be between 0 and 10,000.
• If this does not apply to you, you can leave this field blank.

Understanding Your Results

Once you have entered all the necessary information, the calculator will compute various results, which include:

• Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA): This is calculated as the minimum of either 47% of your weekly income or $532, but not less than $51.
• Dependent Allowance: This amount is calculated based on the number of dependents and your WBA, capped at 50% of your WBA.
• Total Weekly Benefit: Your WBA, adjusted by the dependent allowance and further reduced by half of your partial earnings, if applicable.
• Maximum Benefit Period: The duration for which you can receive benefits, which is fixed at 26 weeks.
• Maximum Total Benefit Amount: Your total weekly benefit multiplied by the maximum benefit period, giving you a complete overview of the potential benefits over the period.

Ensure all input fields are completed correctly to receive an accurate estimate of your benefits. If any input does not meet the validation criteria, adjust the values accordingly to proceed with the calculations.