Section 2720.101  Filing, Registering and Reporting by Mail Under Special Circumstances

a)         The application of this Section is limited to individuals who fall within the following general categories who have no access to a telephone or the internet and who meet the requirements set forth in subsection (c):

1)         Persons residing in any area or community where no transportation is readily or cheaply available, where no local office exists and where itinerant service is not furnished;

2)         Persons working less than full time and residing in any area or community where itinerant service is furnished but who are employed at the time itinerant service is available to them;

3)         Persons in the armed forces of the United States;

4)         Persons whose physical condition prevents filing, registering and reporting in person;

5)         Persons in full time employment under  circumstances in which that reporting, registering or filing in person would be inconsistent with the purposes of the Act;

6)         Persons claiming benefits with respect to a week of partial employment, defined as a calendar week of less than full time work with respect to which wages payable to an individual are less than his or her weekly benefit amount and are earned from his or her regular employing unit.

b)         Except when otherwise specified in Rules by the Director, the requirements of Section 500(A) of the Act, with respect to the persons described in subsection (a), are waived.

c)         General Provisions

1)         Notwithstanding the provisions of any other Section of 56 Ill. Adm. Code:  Chapter IV, any unemployed individual in any of the categories of subsection (a) shall, under those circumstances and subject to those conditions set forth in this Section, be permitted to file a claim for benefits by mail and register for work mail.  The permission shall be granted only in cases when all of the following circumstances and conditions exist:

A)        A request by the individual or his or her authorized agent orally or in writing has been made;

B)        The individual has furnished such information as the Claims Adjudicator may require to determine the propriety of the request;

C)        The Claims Adjudicator has found that failure to grant permission would be inconsistent with the purposes of the Act.

2)         The Claims Adjudicator shall have the right to withdraw permission with respect to any week if he or she finds that reporting in person would not be inconsistent with the purposes of the Act.

d)         Effects of Filing by Mail

1)         Filing, registering and reporting by mail in accordance with the provisions of this Section shall have the same effect as filing, registering, and reporting in person at an unemployment office.

2)         When permission to file by mail has been granted, the date of the request for permission (as evidenced by the postmark if the request is by mail) shall be considered as the date of claim; provided, however, that backdating for good cause shall be granted to the same extent that it is granted to persons who file claims in person.  (See Sections 2720.105(b) and 2720.120.)

3)         Except with respect to the necessity for appearing in person at an unemployment office, all provisions of 56 Ill. Adm. Code:  Chapter IV, applicable to filing, registering, and reporting in person shall be applicable to filing, registering, and reporting by mail in accordance with this Section.

4)         The Department may, when accepting mail filings, conduct interviews with the applicants by telephone or in person to review the written submissions.

(Source:  Amended at 43 Ill. Reg. 6385, effective May 14, 2019)