§2905.1. Unemployment Benefits to Aliens

An alien can establish monetary eligibility (see Section 500 of the Unemployment Insurance Act (Act) [820 ILCS 405] and 56 Ill. Adm. Code 2720.1) to receive unemployment insurance benefits only to the extent and on the basis of wages that he or she earned during his or her base period while he or she was lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law, as provided in 56 Ill. Adm. Code 2905.10 or 2905.15, as the case may be.

 

EXAMPLE:  An individual illegally enters the United States in 1981 and begins work at that time.  He or she applies for and is granted permanent residence status as of May 1, 1988.  Only those wages that this individual earns on or after May 1, 1988, may be used to establish his or her monetary eligibility for benefits.

 

(Source:  Amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 6550, effective May 14, 2019)