* April 14 on CBS 2…

Hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans have filed record-setting claims for unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of them is a struggling single mom who told us Tuesday night that she is out of cash – but the state is putting her money on hold for months.

As CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov reported, Marissa Strickland said she has to wait almost five months to see any money at all – a wait that could leave her out of a home – all because of an issue she had two years ago and thought she had rectified.

It turns out the pandemic is not going to change that.

The governor was asked about this last week during a press conference and he said they’d check into it.

* April 20 on CBS 2…

CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov had new information Monday about the penalty weeks that have been issued because of previous unemployment claims, which are costing some people their benefits – big time.

“Trying to do little odd jobs to take care of my family – best as I can,” said Anthony Gordon.

Gordon’s anxiety is running high as his money runs low. Almost a month after being laid off from his Ford job at the plant near 126th Street and Torrence Avenue, he is being told he cannot get any unemployment benefits until his penalty weeks are over. The weeks were slapped onto his account after he got $1,700 more than he should have.

“But I already had paid that money back already, so I’m trying to figure out what was going on, and all I’m getting is they’re saying I have a penalty, so I don’t know what to do,” Gordon said.

* I asked the governor’s office about these stories and they sent me what IDES sent the station…

Individuals who commit unemployment fraud and defraud the unemployment system are required by law to repay the benefits they received, pay a penalty fee, and serve penalty weeks. This is a statutory requirement that IDES is mandated by Illinois state and federal law to implement.

Claimants who have stolen someone else’s identity to receive benefits will receive a determination that they have committed unemployment fraud. Claimants who have been working while certifying that they have not been working in order to continue receiving unemployment benefits will also receive a determination that they have committed unemployment fraud. To be clear, claimants certify every two weeks, legally telling the department that for the two weeks prior they have not been working or receiving wages. A claimant who has developed a pattern of legally certifying that they have not been working or receiving wages when, in fact, they have been, will receive a determination of unemployment fraud. If the claimant appeals the determination, they will participate in a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge. If, at this hearing, the determination of unemployment fraud is upheld, the claimant will receive the total number of penalty weeks they must serve, in addition to paying back the benefits they received and paying a penalty fee.

If a claimant wishes to appeal the Administrative Law Judge determination, there is an internal review process, and the final decision can be appealed in the circuit court.

The General Assembly would have to make a statutory change to defer serving penalty weeks during this crisis. At this time, IDES is unaware of any legislative proposal from the General Assembly to defer penalty weeks for those who have committed fraud. We would recommend reaching out to the General Assembly.

The statute is here.