Illinois' Enhanced Unemployment May Only Last Weeks, Leave People Out

A man looks at the closed sign in front of Illinois Department of Employment Security in Chicago, Wednesday, April 15, 2020. With half-a-million people bounced out of jobs in the past month because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois’ unemployment safety net has been stretched to the limit. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Illinois’ extra 300 dollars-a-week in unemployment benefits will not go as far as many hoped. Illinois’ Department of Employment Security on Monday said that the program, once it is approved by the Trump Administration, would only last about three weeks. The state also said as many as 55 thousand people who are unemployed would not qualify. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said his office is working to secure the unemployment enhancer, but he is not guessing when people could see the extra benefits.