 "Our role in the Illinois economy is twofold. We use specific programs to link
together job seekers and businesses so both can be successful. And we do so
through programs that protect taxpayer dollars and fight waste, fraud and
abuse," said IDES Director Jay Rowell. "Today is another example of a state
agency looking to streamline operations and save money while staying responsible
to its core mission."Workers eligible for unemployment insurance must contact
IDES every two weeks to confirm that they are actively pursuing work and meeting
other eligibility requirements. This fraud prevention tool is known as
certifying for benefits, and it can be accomplished at
www.ides.illinois.gov.
The Internet remains the preferred method to certify because it has
significant advantages: It is faster and easier. Successful confirmation is
immediate. The possibility of pressing the wrong button is eliminated, thereby
preventing missed benefit payments. Currently, 100 percent of unemployment
insurance benefit payments are electronic. Nearly 60 percent of all unemployment
insurance applications are submitted through the Internet, and nearly 40 percent
of the people collecting benefits currently use the Internet to certify.
[to top of second column] |
Internet certification also can help the long-term unemployed become
more confident with their computer skills, thereby reducing a
significant barrier to re-employment. Other advantages associated
with Internet certification outweigh any perceived negatives. Modern
telephone plans have bundled minutes that no longer consider
long-distance charges, making the current toll-free option less
appealing.
Illinois businesses are hiring. More than 100,000 help-wanted ads
are on
IllinoisJobLink.com, the IDES employment website that links job
seekers with employers. Keyword-matching technology increases the
likelihood of a successful new hire and compares favorably with
private efforts that cost hundreds of dollars. No-cost human
resources recruitment services for business owners are available
through the website and 877-342-7533.
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Employment Security
file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
