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More Cash Coming for the Unemployed

Illinois has received almost $1 billion in stimulus funds since March

Thursday, Sep 3, 2009 | Updated 3:00 PM CDT

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Illinois will get more than $200 million in U.S. Labor Department funds to modernize its unemployment insurance program.

Illinois will get more than $200 million in U.S. Labor Department funds to modernize its unemployment insurance program.

The money -- $200,767,125 to be exact -- is coming from the federal stimulus program, Sen. Dick Durbin announced Wednesday. It's in addition to the $100,383,562 the state received in April. The state has received almost $1 billion since March.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security can use these funds to pay unemployment benefits, or if appropriated by the Legislature, for administering its unemployment insurance program or providing employment services, according to the office of Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill.

Illinois is one of six states certified by the U.S. Dept. of Labor to share in the $7 billion available for modernization by this year's Recovery Act. Illinois qualified for incentive funds because it allows workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits.