WARNING: THE OFFICE IS NOT OPEN. Took the train down here because haven’t been called back after calling 2-3 times and just wanted to speak to a human. Even though non-essential businesses are open all over the city (Lolla ran for God’s sake!!), for some reason it’s too “risky” to have a government office where people can seek necessary employment help. Thoroughly disappointed.

How Is it that Lori Lightfoot has opened up the city and businesses while the Ides office is still closed to its citizens and now you cant even call the number it just hangs up on you I have been to three offices within 3 days trying to find an open office or someone from this department this is very sad and unacceptable when they know this income is detrimental to our livelihood but they dont care cuz theyre sitting at home collecting a check not answering the phone at their leisure and want to blame everything on covid but Larry Lightfoot can recoup fees taxes parking tickets but cannot help your citizens get back to normal life cant wait for the first train out of here!

They keep asking me to upload forms over and over again even though several customer service reps have confirmed they have them. Faxed all my tax info and was received. Customer service this morning said I needed to upload my taxes and as card and I’d. They didn’t have these. Extremely upsetting and frustrating. 7 pending payments.

Been trying to get in contact with these guys for two months. No call back. No nothing.

I’ve been trying to contact someone over the phone and nobody responses my calls. Is a month that I amTrying to contact someone and no one returned my call. Terrible public service

I have tried contacting them for two months I have also posted tweets to their Twitter page for a call back but still nothing

Never pick up phones they might as well put a Now hiring Sign for people who actually want to work can come in and help the People this is ridicules Id give it no stars

I waited 2 and a half weeks to be on their waitlist for a callback. Finally they call me at 1:52pm today, i told the representative that i need her to check my claim status and she says ok then hangs up the phone. Doe not even attempt to call me back after i already waited almost 3weeks. Literally only stayed on the phone with me 44 seconds.This is not right. They should not be doing this to people during the PANDEMIC.Im a citizen who has payed my taxes.

So I was trying to reach them. Their online system would not let me certify. I left my number on the call back waiting list. Took 5 weeks for them to call me. I get it, so many are trying to claim. I got a missed call, but caught the repeat. Jessica and Rebecca helped me greatly. Mike from advance help was amazing as well. All 3 fixed the mistakes with quick and efficient delivery. The missing star is for the Mayor and Governor.

Today I have gone to visit the office there was people working including a security guard inside the building with a note on the doors saying that the location was closed because of Covid-19 pandemic. There should have placed the information on the website. This very unfair to people with unemployment issues like myself not being able to address important matters about their finances who can not contact them via internet, telephone or by mail. It has been a month since I filed. This process has been very confusing and frustrating especially when you can not get the help needed to receive the benefits.

Well...its closed but nice people anyway.

I can not register online. Apparently all of my info is correct but the website is telling me to call. I do and I cannot speak to anyone. All I get is a long recorded message followed by an automatic cutoff. I check to see where the local office is and it is saying that it is open. I drive there. Its closed, of course. Why must this be so hard?

Just attempted to call on behalf of my husbands new return back to work and wasn’t able to speak with anyone. 4/29.

Called non stop for 5 hours, finally got far enough where I was only hold to talk to someone. The second they answered and I started to explain I needed to make a change to my claim i filed, he then hung up. Extremely rude and now I have to sit and call non-stop for hours again.

They do not answer phone calls at all it just to auto message. I just have one question and no one would like to answer the phone. Disappointing.

I was give a date for interview 7 days after they say I missed call have a finding for me. Yet never paid a penney crook lead il. All crooks

I understand the circumstances and how a lot of people need to file unemployment. WHAT I CANT STAND is that you cant get a hold of anyone. You have to listen to the same 5 min voicemail before a high call demand response and it hangs up. This DOES NOT HELP. I have called over 30 times with the same thing happening and its 4 oclock. This is the worst Ive ever experience. Do better

Need to update their website very badly and absolutely no information. For two months it says 2 pending issues but it doesn’t say nowhere what those two pending issues are..... ridiculous!

OMG. WOW. THE BEST.

Absolutely atrocious how this IDES system treats the people who need to get questions answered. For three weeks Ive been trying to call and get a certification problem fixed and its always busy.. Illinois has failed its people during this terrible time.

Been calling them in 3 months and they don’t answer or phone is busy. Finally I got Celeste on the phone he said that he will call me back next day and never did, but finally I got Mike on the phone and he was helpful

I live with a terminal illness and have a mental condition on top of that. I lost my job 5/3/2020 due to being let go. An adjudicator was suppose to give me a call finally on 6/15/20 at 8:45AM . Mind you I changed numbers and on 6/12 called and got through and spoke to a Kathy who said she was going to get the info over to the correct dept so they would call the correct number. Well they never called. Then I called and got a hold of Kathy again on 6/15 and she tells me they called the wrong number even though it has been updated in the system at 2:30 PM. No one called me and if they did call the corrected number and some how it did not go through (which I doubt because I can walk up my street and see my cell tower and I always have 5 bars at all time). So she says I will have the adjudicator call the correct number the next day. I said Ill be home and they can call anytime well I waited from 7AM til 6 PM and not one phone call. So now I have been calling EVERYDAY multiple times just to be hung up on after hearing the little message about how they are trying their hardest. I see online people who get at least some unemployment before even having to speak to an adjudicator and Im waiting and waiting and waiting. My name is Ian Macdonald and Im writing to the governor. This is so unfair. Also I get a letter in the mail saying I dont get benefits due to not speaking to an adjudicator. I have not missed my appointments.........they have. IDES is the worst. Gotta love having to pay the bills and having a key2 card sent to you with $.00 in it. Should have sent me whatever the cost to make the card and mail it to me. What was the point???? Thanks for nothing!

I have been trying to file for unemployment since March 9. Initially I was not able to create a profile. Then I wasn’t able to file a claim. Now I’m unable to certify. It has been 21 weeks since my preschool closed because of Covid-19 and I have not been able to speak to a human person to determine what on earth is going on.

NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR LIFE STORY JUST RATE THE PLACE OF BUSINESS NOT IDES AS A WHOLE. THAT BEING SAID ONE STAR BECAUSE THEY DONT DO THEIR JOB WHATSOEVER. WRONG HOURS, NO CORRESPONDENCE; PEOPLE WHO DONT CARE.

The Illinois Job Link site logged me out. You can add your resumes and over 2 or 3 months they notify if you about jobs. Every day, but if you miss your expire date they give you on the top of the page. You can get kicked out which means you have to reset your password again. You get so many tries but you need to remember your current password to get in and put in another password for that 2 or 3 months. Well, I got kicked out and had to come back here for them to get me back in. And add my 90 resumes back in the system. It can be a pain but your password needs to be long and add 2 numbers and a character. And hope it takes I have to write them down so I dont I forget them. Thank goodness this building close by in my neighborhood.

Had the most unhelpful call of my life with this call center. Like many other I am depending on unemployment for my wellbeing. After calling around 50 times just to be on HOLD I finally was able to join the queue. The directory to even check if the queue is available takes roughly 5 minutes to listen to, and it is mind numbing that there isnt an option to have them call you back and leave a number. When I was finally able to reach someone, she did not disclose her name, she told me very bluntly about the issues I was having. She let me know that because the system is automatic my payments would be stopping because I received late holiday pay from my previous employer. She told me everything I was telling her was un needed and asides from the fact and bullied me into feeling bad for even wanting to know. She told me that even though it was to the fault of the system the only thing I could do was apply again. She forcefully kept repeating that I was rude and that I would be placed on hold. I tried to sound as genuinely respectful and apologized if my concerns came off that way and she hung up on me. She deliberately hung up on me just because I asked a question. To grasp that the people in charge of taking care of families in need be so blatantly apathetic is beyond me. It infuriates me to think that this person was allowed to be in the position to care for others. The only reason I am giving two stars is because a woman named Candace swiftly picked up afterwards, knew exactly what my issue was and fixed it for me. She was upstanding in every way and able to be kind despite what Im sure was a long day at the office.

Aside from not being able to get the money Im owed, the phone doesnt even connect you to anyone, rather theres a 10 minute long automated voice. Such a waste of time.

I’m a little shocked just how nice everyone was here. It’s a little slow, but I expected that.I had some questions about my unemployment, so I called the main office in Springfield, and got very contradicting, misleading, and I’m pretty sure almost illegal advice on how to proceed. I was ready to put up a fight once I got there, after my phone call the day before, but they were so nice and helpful, and got everything fixed up! I seriously don’t think I’ve ever had such a pleasant experience at a government office.

I give the entire state of illinois 0 stars, laughing stock of america, called 8000 time cant get thru even though operator s r getting paid $55 hr . While thousands still waiting for 1st unemployment check., For 2 months, good to know the billions we r paying in taxes r being flushed down the toilet

I went online to apply and for some apparent reason you cannot put your social security number in, I guess this is a way to deter you from applying.

Ive never applied for unemployment benefits before but due to Covid-19 I was laid off. My last day if work was March 20, 2020 so to insure proper time was given for my application I applied March 23rd, 2020 online. It is now April 28th, 2020 and I still havent received any benefits. I dont know my application status or have heard back from anyone. Ive called the countless numbers given from the phone systems, offices for any form of help but none work and they all just direct you to a website that is poorly designed and doesnt provide answers for questions I have. I dont know what to do or if this is a lost cause? Is the help there? When Covid-19 is over can we please update these systems and hold the employees to hire accountability. This system was designed to help people when they would go under difficult times but today more than ever when thousands of people need it, we have all been left in the dark.

HORRIBLE place and staff!!! They should sweep this office and bring in capable and professional staff.Some of the staff are actually taking advantage of the system getting paid and not helping people?? this is a shame!!!!

I JUST called the number because I have a months-long benefits issue that I need resolved ASAP but I havent had time to go into an office before work. I was calling to set up some sort of time for me to come in when, if not for an appointment, they would at least know to keep an eye out for me. Know what I got? 3 minutes of a repetitive menu change alert pretty much telling you to hang up and handle your issues online, which is literally impossible in my case. And when I finally heard the phone ring I thought FINALLY, an actual person. Nope. It rang and rang until I heard Were sorry. All of our agents are currently busy assisting other clients. Trash.

The place shows open online, I went there before they open, when they came in they said they are not open for public, there were other people waiting too, they were really rude and said call the 800 number that no one answers. application kept says

The one star rating isnt actually what I want to give them. I actually would rather give a zero. I regret strongly ever applying for unemployment benefits. It has been nothing but extreme agony and problematic for me. Theyre not helpful whatsoever. Theyre incompetent in several areas. Ive had several people work on my case file that has placed me in a predicament in having to be interviewed constantly by an employee or judge. No one communicates with each other it seems because I receive letters from them with different information; nothing makes sense. Theyre very biased against educators and have a huge misconception on the hiring and firing process as well. Theyre very good in lying and hiding documentation that you have sent them. I have a huge folder of copies of everything that I have received, sent in, faxed in and notes from interviews and calls. But, even with doing this it still seems to be no use because Im constantly having to defend myself and prove that I am being truthful and doing everything that is being asked of me. Lastly, one of the big things that they advertise is that they want you to be able to locate a job and get a job but I feel thats untrue as well. In my experience it has not been the case they have actually been cutting my ties with certain employers that I have been working with as daily work by speaking for me stating lies that I am an employee there and demanding benefits from them which is untrue. This whole system is just awful and destroyed due to fraudulent people but yet people as myself who are innocent are victims of these people. Its disgusting and vile.

This both infuriating and sad. 5 weeks, no benefits, even tho i keep certifying, and it’s extremely difficult to get through.

Horrible services. Illinois failed their citizens during this time of emergency..

Ive attempted to call 236 times so far to address an issue with certifying. I missed my certification period because of it. This is horrible. Governor Pritzker please do something.

No one answers calls. I’ve been saving all my call logs.

I had a very smooth experience filing my unemployment claim. I arrived a few minutes before they opened with all of the forms of ID required and successfully filed in person when I couldnt online at home. Very efficient and painless. The online resources streamline the process.

Their customer service is very rude and unprofessional. I just had simple questions about good cause claims. He didnt want to hear the questions all he said was just file. That wasnt helpful. I needed more specific answers so I wouldnt be penalized. He finally started giving me the run down in a very smug way. Like I was bothering him with my dumb questions. Then he called me grandma after I said I had no other questions. I work in customer service and hate unprofessionalism.

I been trying to certify for unemployment insurance and there website or there phone certification are not allowing me to complete my certification.i scheduled a call back and the havent called me back its been weeks of stress,of trying to get in contact with a live agent no luck this is horrible it seems like no one in there end is doing there job.

MR. FRANK FISHER:This is a review for Mr. Frank Fisher, who is on staff at the IDES Lawrence Ave office, Chicago, IL. Mr Fisher is the only person who was able and willing to handle my complicated case to receive unemployment benefits. To make a very long story short, Mr. Fisher got the facts straight & was able to process my claim in order for me to receive the benefits I deserve. I believe Mr. Fisher deserves recognition for the hard work he does and I will be forever grateful for his efforts on my behalf. Sincerely, Gina Savo

First person lied about adding a note to file after 30 days of waiting.Second person hung up on me.

Nice and helpful staff

Illinois for you. Terrible workers, very rude and hang up your calls without any regrets.

The office is closed all day.

They suspended my claim for no reason. Was supposed to be fixed 3 weeks ago. Still havent been paid in over 2 months and can never get a hold of anyone. This place is a joke.

I’ve called everyday for a 5 days & held for 5-6 hours each time. No one picked up. I need help! My card is gone & I need a new one. I don’t know what imma do.

Very bad service been trying to contact IDES on phone early A.M.NO ANSWERAlways saying their Reps are currently busy really Come on!

Great service, they walked me through the whole process of employement online and helped me get 1099 form info handy.Its just friendly service all offices should have. Thanks...

They were very helpful, and polite

I need a password reset for 6 weeks now I cant get in touch with ANYONE!!!!

Trying to call trying to apply for PUA. IMPOSSIBLE

Been calling for 2 weeks and nobody answers the phone at all

Ain’t no dam Unemployment office here . It’s a Condo building here 😐😡😡

I expected when I came to this office to wait in a long line and deal with people who were burnt out and did not care. What a surprise, the office was clean, the staff was pleasant to work with, and there was no line. The office assistant knew how to help and removed the scary process of having to appeal the decision by reversing the action while I was in the office. I couldnt have asked for a better experience.

I can’t reach them almost 2 weeksNo respond on email,phone line is busy al the time,online website isn’t validated information

Hot Garbage.

Is there anyone had hand for pick up the phone?

I found the employees to be pleasant, considerate, and hard-working. Although it took a few hours to resolve the issue I brought into the office, my experience there was better than what I get when I am at the meat counter of my local grocery at a busy time. Best of all, the person who worked with me was knowledgable, effective, and efficient. She saw me waiting, found out why I was there, put me on a computer, moved my case - which was a technical computer related thing - to the people who could fix it, informed me of what was happening and what I needed to do, and then followed up with me to ensure that the issue was resolved. At the same time that this obviously patient and proud public servant, who was working by herself in a high pressure front-line position, was shepherding me she was managing about five to ten people filing for unememployment on a bank of computers, and, she was maintaining the queue of people waiting to apply or ask for assistance. My visit to the IDES office was time well spent. It is an existential challenge to be unemployed, you cant help but feel worthless. However, the respect I was treated with by the people at IDES revitalized my sense of dignity which is a necessity when seeking employment and interviewing.

You can’t reach absolutely no one and the GOVERNMENT STAND ON TV LYING RIGHT AS WE SPEAK WHAT CALL CENTER

Not a bad place considering the restraints they have to operate within. I have never waitedTHAT long. I will say though that getting in touch by phone is all but impossible.

Always busy I made my call 8:00 AM and nobody answered horrible and nobody is even taking people at the office until is 3:30PM so they go home. People these days ugh.

Called every hour on the hour for an entire day- line always busy. My kids are hungry.

No answers from any of the phone numbers that are given.

What a joke!

This place is a joke... I came in at 9am my nr was 55 only 10 ppl in front of me its 11am and Im still sitting here... Aprox 200 ppl inside and only 2 taking claims.. If you go here bring your lunch w/you. Parking situation... Geezaz you have to park your car 5 blocks away and walk... Waste of time!

Terrible service

Ruben was fantastic in helping resolve all issues and problems holding my unemployment back. Took the time and initiative to treat me like a person and not just a Number.

When all civilization breaks down, hopefully, people will rise against this place first. Even for Illilois, this place is corrupt

Tells you there are high call volumes and then hangs up on you, there are also no other numbers you can call. If there was any kind of competition they would have gone out of business long ago.

There is not enough parking ... prepare to pay for parking across the street.

The customer services at this location, and on the phone is horrendous. Anyone who says otherwise is biased.

Always too busy to take my call. I never have the opportunity to talk to someone!

This Office is close

No one ever answers

Had to come back for a second in-person visit because the first person I worked with was incompetent, which resulted in my unemployment benefits being delayed a further three weeks.

This place is horrible the coworkers and the system suck people there have poor attitude

I was trying to call them always busy horrible

Too far for my zip code

All these people that works for government places like this one are a piece of ...... i believe that it is a requirement when they get the job to act so useless with the people.

Never answer the phone

I never cant get through the line because it knocks me off the line because of the high calls and tells me to go online but I cant never log into my account these people have jobs for no reason because they dont even do they job

☆☆☆☆☆