Small businesses suffer because of state inaction

For a combined 64 years, my wife and I have owned businesses that have employed quite a few people. Each quarter, we, like every other employer, have paid the Illinois Department of Employment Security a percentage of our payroll expense to insure that if our employees became unemployed, they would be eligible for unemployment compensation. That money does not come from payroll deductions but rather right out of our pockets. We have been fortunate that over all those years only one employee has collected unemployment compensation.

We have all heard of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act. It is a stimulus bill signed into law by President Trump on March 27 that responds to the COVID-19 outbreak and its impact on the economy. Within the CARES Act, there is the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program that creates a temporary, federal unemployment insurance plan for individuals not otherwise eligible for state benefits - self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers. Note that this is a federal plan that is funded by the federal government, but run by the states.

On April 7, IDES updated its website to give self-employed workers additional guidance on PUA benefits: "This portion of the benefits expansion package has not yet been implemented. Further details about the program, how to apply and eligibility requirements will be made as soon as they have been finalized at IDES. Illinois.gov."

On April 8, State Sen. Bill Brady warned it "could take months" before self-employed workers would be able to file. On April 17, state Sen. Celina Villanueva tweeted, "IDES shared earlier this week that independent contractors & S(elf) E(mployed) workers are advised to apply for unemployment now bc (sic) those applicants have to be denied traditional unemployment to be eligible for the PUA program."

A call to the IDES office had a recorded message that said if you speak to someone at their office don't ask the about PUA.

Many, many self employed and small business owners struggle to make ends meet. PUA was designed to assist them during these trying times. While the governor has walked to his pulpit every day and constantly blames others for Illinois problems, he has ignored the problems that are his responsibility.

It is outrageous that the self employed and the small business owners, the backbone of the state and the country, need to wait months before they will receive PUA, because of the incompetence and inefficiency of the state of Illinois.

Vito A. Grimaldi

Libertyville