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* UPDATED x1 * 12.6 percent of all new unemployment benefit applications were filed in Illinois last week

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The surprise jump in new jobless claims filings to the highest level since mid-September signals a weakening in the labor market that could drag down the economy into the first quarter.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits jumped to 853,000, rising 137,000 during the week ended Dec. 5 from the prior week, the largest weekly increase since the height of economic shutdowns in March. Economists had expected 730,000 claims, according to Dow Jones. They note the Thanksgiving holiday period could have added distortions in both weeks, but the trend is clearly negative.

State continuing claims rose by 230,000 to 5.76 million, the first increase since August.

* CBS 2…

The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported 107,616 new unemployment claims were filed across the state last week, the week of Nov. 29, the most jobless claims the state has had in nearly eight months.

Illinois’ estimated claims last week were among 853,000 total filed across the country.

The most recent claims represent a 45% increase from the prior week, when 74,131 unemployment claims were filed statewide, and a 627% increase over the 14,798 new claims filed in the same week of 2019.

Illinois numbers have not been this high since mid-April, when there were over 141,000 claims filed the week of April 6.

If these high numbers are due to fraud, as the governor has said, then Illinois is having truly gigantic fraud problems. We have 3.9 percent of the US population and 12.6 percent of the benefit applications?

*** UPDATE *** Text from a reporter buddy…

On unemployment, IL’s situation isn’t quite that bad. (Altho it’s still bad.) Seasonally adjusted national unemployment apps were 853,000. Actual were over 947,000. So IL accounted for 11.3%

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 3:16 pm

Comments

How much of this is fraud? A number of my friends and family, all gainfully employed, started receiving prepaid cards without asking. They can’t even get someone at IDES on the phone to let them know.

IDES, like much of our state bureaucracy, is incompetent and unprepared.

Comment by SumGai1986 Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 3:21 pm
Have had two family members in the past week now get notices saying unemployment was filed on their behalf. What is going on?

Comment by Chicagonk Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 3:23 pm
The fraud seems to be distorting numbers enough to affect policy. That is disturbing.

We really need tough laws on identity theft. Also more resources to catch the thieves.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 3:26 pm
Frankly at this point I’m actually surprised that I haven’t gotten a debit card in the mail.

Comment by Gob Bluth Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 3:28 pm
==We really need tough laws on identity theft.==

Most of these guys are running out of foreign companies. An entire book of U.S. statutes couldn’t stop them.

Comment by SumGai1986 Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 3:35 pm
JB needs to figure this out. The state is laughingstock and justifiably so. Put some smart people on it please.

Comment by SSL Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 3:36 pm
I too got a notice AND the card. But I can’t reach anyone at the state to report it. I’ve even tried going online, but can’t seem to find anywhere to report it.

Comment by Unemployed supposedly Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 3:37 pm
Have a research appointment at UiC. Received notice a week ago from HR that someone had submitted an unemployment claim under my name. HR has fact sheets explaining what to do and who to contact if I received a debit card and HR advised to watch bank accounts closely. I like previous commentators wonder how large problem is.

Comment by Almost retired Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 3:38 pm
Couple things not surprising since JB shut down casinos bars and resturants. Two i wondet how much of it is fruad. Ive been emploed by the state for 11 years. I got a fruadulent one done on me and several of people in our area has same thing.They didnt even bother to xhe k their own employment records.What a mess.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 3:58 pm
3 employees, at our company, have received a fraudulent notice. We’ve called the state IDES office and left information for their “call-back” service (meaning they will call us back to gather more information).

We’ve not heard back. We left the call back number 23 days ago. Very frustrating.

Comment by redbird Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 4:28 pm
88 yr old mother in law got letter and subsequent debit card. It has caused high anxiety and stress that she does not need. Calling and leaving a message for IDES and then waiting for IDES to call you back seems like such an antiquated way to address this. Why hasn’t an online system been set up for reporting this fraud?

Comment by Reggaeman Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 4:34 pm
“caused high anxiety and stress”

Tell me about it. IDES sent a letter to one employee stating that they owed the benefits back (even though none were received). But IDES has yet to call back as promised (23 days later).

Comment by redbird Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 4:41 pm
=IDES, like much of our state bureaucracy, is incompetent and unprepared.=

The most incompetent and unprepared. A friend has been going back and fourth with legislative assistant and liaison over a clerical error caused by IDES.

Comment by Major Biden Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 4:48 pm
And people wonder why the Fair Tax failed. Voters see Illinois government as poorly run. The IDES mess is just one example.

Comment by Chicagonk Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 5:15 pm
I know 10 people (my wife being one of them) who are victims of this fraud. That means there are probably more. The UI numbers have to be inflated significantly.

Comment by Hyperbolic Chamber Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 5:30 pm
If you receive an unexpected IDES debit card, do not activate it, cut it in half immediately.

If you receive a UI form or benefits statement stating that you are eligible for benefits, immediately contest the finding by email, telephone, fax, and letter. Send the letter certified with return receipt. Keep copies and/or screen shots of everything. If you get a return call from an IDES investigator, keep notes of call, including name of person. Caller ID will show call is from IDES.

IDES has an online contact form, link is below. Telephone and fax numbers are below. The IDES address will be on the UI or benefits statement.

It took IDES about 2 weeks to respond to my initial phone call. But by then, I had contacted them 4 times by phone, email, fax, and letter. I a filed police and FTC reports for identity theft. Filed for credit reporting freezes. Informed my banks and added more security to accounts. The investigator asked if I had completed these things, so I had dates for everything.

It is scary, shocking, and frustrating but don’t give up. Be proactive about defending your self. It took me nearly a week to fight the paperwork after being notified by my company personnel office.

https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/Pages/Contact-IDES_Form.aspx

https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/Pages/Reporting_Unemployment_Insurance_Fraud.aspx

IDES Special Investigations Unit - Reporting Benefit Fraud For reporting individuals fraudulently receiving unemployment benefits.
Phone Number: (800) 814-0513
Fax Number: (312) 793-2356

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 5:47 pm
About every third day I learn of another person who was targeted by the scam (including me).
I know more people who have gotten fraudulent unemployment than actual unemployment.

Comment by Proud Papa Bear Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 6:01 pm
They committed fraud in my name twice within a month so many are fraud and repeat fraud. I have been at the same job for a couple of decades am with hopefully still be working for at least another ten years in the same job

Comment by Paul Thursday, Dec 10, 20 @ 11:50 pm