HARVEY, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Illinois Department of Employment Security announced Thursday that it has reopened some of its offices on an appointment-only basis since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The offices have been closed since March 2020, and now four are open by appointment only: Harvey, Rockford, Champaign, and Mt. Vernon.
"Four is not enough,” State Rep. Lamont Robinson (D-Chicago), told CBS 2. “But we all have to understand we’re all in the midst of a pandemic. We’re all having staffing issues, and the state is having staffing issues.”
He’s calling the director of IDES to testify at a hearing.
“To testify on what the issues are within IDES, how do we fix then, and then lastly, what resources that department needs to be successful,” Robinson told CBS 2.
IDES said it will continue to reopen other offices on a phased basis.
But there are questions about how people are going to get through on the appoint scheduling line. There are already about 30,000 numbers sitting in a queue awaiting a call-back from someone with the IDES.
To schedule an appointment, the state asks that people call the IDES Scheduling Hotline at (217) 558-0401 and request a callback. IDES advises that appointments must be scheduled a minimum of 24 hours ahead of the appointment time.
The IDES said an appointment may be scheduled for one of the following reasons, in their words:
• Identity verification for an unemployment insurance claim
• Assistance registering with IllinoisJobLink.com
• Assistance documenting work search activities
• Employment services, including resume and job search guidance
• Request to use the Resource Room to use computers with internet and other resources
Appointments are available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Each appointment will be 20 minutes long, and each visitor will have a 10-minute grace period.
Visitors must bring a photo ID and any other necessary documentation to their appointments.
Masks are required at IDES offices. Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19, or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19, within 14 days before their appointment must reschedule.
An appointment is required for entry to an unemployment office. Anyone who shows up without an appointment will be asked to call the scheduling hotline and make one later.
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