Legislation could save some Illinoisans’ unemployment benefits

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Senate Wednesday approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Terry Link that could prevent thousands of Illinoisans from being denied unemployment benefits later this year.

“The state is in danger of losing extended federal funding for unemployment benefits,” the Waukegan Democrat said.

To fix that, the legislation changes how the state measures its long-term unemployment rate in order to qualify for extended federal benefits.

Because Illinois’ unemployment rate has been decreasing in recent months, the state was in danger of losing access to the extra 13 weeks of unemployment the federal government has granted to many Americans. Normally, an unemployed worker can get 26 weeks of benefits.

The legislation, which will call for measurements recorded over three years instead of one, was approved by a 45-11 vote Wednesday and now moves to the House. State employment officials have said lawmakers and Gov. Pat Quinn have to move quickly on the legislation in order not to lose the extended benefits.

The House and Quinn could act as early as Thursday.