Unemployment Insurance and Social Security Disability Insurance

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Steady employment is not always a guarantee. Some may suddenly find themselves unemployed. Others may discover they have a disability that makes it difficult to find a job that accommodates their physical or mental health needs. If you find yourself in either or both of these situations check out the information we have below to learn about unemployment and supplemental security income.

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Unemployment Insurance

Losing your job can be terrifying. You may be worried about how long it may take before you find your next job. You may even wonder how you are going to pay rent, buy food, and cover the rest of your bills. This is where unemployment insurance comes into play.

Unemployment insurance is a cash benefit offered by your state to help pay a percentage of the pay you earned prior to losing your job. The maximum benefit you can receive from unemployment insurance in the state of Illinois is $484 per week if you have no dependents (people, including children, that you are responsible for providing food and shelter for). That amount increases based upon your marital status and number of children in your home. However, due to Covid-19 you may be entitled to more. Also, keep in mind that depending on your earnings you may receive less than the maximum amount. To find out more about how your unemployment benefit is calculated check out this as well as any special considerations you may need to take into account due to Covid-19, please check out the following information provided by Illinois Legal Aid.

Unemployment Eligibility

To be eligible for unemployment insurance you must be:

  • physically able to work,

  • available for work,

  • actively seeking work.

If you lost your job for any other reason aside from your job laying you off— in other words, they had no more work available for you to do (think COVID closings, a company going out of business, or a temp-job contract ending and the company you were working for didn’t give you an offer for a permanent position)— your eligibility for unemployment insurance must be determined by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Some of the causes of job loss that are investigated for eligibility reasons are:

  • You quit your job;

  • You are on a leave of absence for health reasons (for example: you recently gave birth or you are taking care of a sick loved one);

  • You were fired or suspended by your employer for misconduct.

For more information on unemployment insurance rights, check out the Homeless Youth Handbook-Illinois.

To begin the process of applying for unemployment insurance, click this link to the IDES website.

Social Security Disability Insurance

Are you unable to work because of a physical or mental health concern or disability? You might be eligible for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) through the state. SSDI is a public benefit, like SNAP or TANF, that provide cash assistance to people with disabilities when they’re not able to work.

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You may be eligible for SSDI if you have any of the following conditions that make it difficult to manage major life activities:

  • AIDS, and its symptoms

  • Alcoholism

  • Asthma

  • Blindness or other visual impairments

  • Cancer

  • Cerebral palsy

  • Complications from Pregnancy

  • Depression

  • Diabetes

  • Epilepsy

  • Hearing or speech impairments

  • Heart Disease

  • Migraine Headaches

  • Multiple sclerosis

  • Muscular dystrophy

  • Orthopedic impairments

  • Paralysis

  • Thyroid gland disorders

  • Tuberculosis

  • Loss of body parts

To learn more about what qualifies as a major life activity or disabilities that qualify you for SSDI, check out this page on the American Disabilities Act (ADA) from the Illinois Legal Aid website.

The Homeless Youth Handbook answers some basic questions about disability benefits and provides additional links to resources to help you figure out whether you’re eligible and how to apply.

Applying for SSDI

Citizens Disability, an advocacy group that helps individuals apply for SSDI provides advocates who can help you navigate the application process. Feel free to give them a call at 1-800-317-6088 to speak with a representative 24/7. Their website also has a chat function so if talking on the phone isn’t your thing, feel free to use their messenger service.

If you feel like you want to apply on your own, use this checklist to make sure you have all the necessary documents and information. Once you’re ready to apply, go straight to the Social Security Administration (SSA) website and click “Apply for Disability” to start your online application. They also have some helpful Starter Kits that will give you more information about the application process and what a disability interview is like, and there are separate kits for adults versus children (anyone under 18).

The video below explains the wait time for approval, and following steps to take if your application is denied.