More Illinoisans Aren't Receiving Debit Cards With Unemployment Benefits, Call On Gov. Pritzker To Take Action
They expected to wait a few weeks for unemployment benefits, but now it has been two months.
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They expected to wait a few weeks for unemployment benefits, but now it has been two months.
On Monday, members of the so-called gig economy were finally able to file for unemployment benefits.
Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday admitted that the Illinois unemployment system is "unfit to handle surge."
"I have a life. I have bills to pay. I'm stuck. I'm really stuck."
They've waited weeks and weeks for help, but starting Monday, Illinois gig workers should start receiving unemployment benefits.
Through CBS 2's commitment to Working for Chicago, we dig into problems Illinoisans face when applying for and receiving unemployment benefits.
Gov. JB Pritzker has said there is no real backlog on jobless claims in Illinois. But on Monday night, our sources said the backlog is real, and getting longer by the day.
The money is still there, but unemployed Illinoisans still can't access it -and bills are piling up.
As we've reported in recent days, penalty weeks have been forcing people to go for months without unemployment benefits – and the matter has become urgent for thousands of people.
When we continued to hear from people who have received unemployment benefits, but no way to access them, our Tara Molina started digging.
In response to multiple complaints, an Illinois state senator is calling for a discussion on penalty weeks preventing people from receiving unemployment benefits.
We exposed Wednesday night how few people are working the phones in Illinois to help those struggling to get through to finish filing for unemployment. On Thursday night, we were happy to report that number is getting a much needed boost.
As CBS 2 Investigator Pam Zekman found out, a simple mistake could mean you can't collect your cash.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) estimates 102,736 new unemployment claims were filed during the week of April 13 in Illinois
People in need of unemployment benefits and their situations are growing direr by the day. We have uncovered what is behind some of the madness, and it's simple.
Workers lose jobs when businesses can't keep their doors open, and the Illinois unemployment system is having a hard time keeping up with claims.
For weeks, we've heard the money coming for unemployment benefits in Illinois and will be there. But that is little consolation to the tens of thousands of jobless in Illinois who still can't file.
The number of people out of work continues to climb amid the coronavirus crisis, and the new numbers issued Thursday reflect that.
With unemployment numbers at an all-time high, the federal government is helping some states process claims faster.
CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov on Tuesday uncovered the reason why one woman is not getting any unemployment money, and on Wednesday, others reached out.
A struggling single mom told us Tuesday night that she is out of cash - but the state is putting her money on hold for months.
Since day one, we have been pushing for answers about the State of Illinois' overwhelmed computer system.
"So many families are hurting at a scale that this country hasn't seen ever in our lifetime, and our state unemployment filing systems – which were built a decade ago for a much lower number of claims – simply haven't kept pace," Pritzker said Monday at his daily COVID-19 briefing.
More than 200,000 people filed first-time unemployment claims in Illinois this week, breaking the record set last week. All those claims in the system also complicates what matters for people already approved.
CBS 2 continues to track issues with the state's unemployment system, which is still overwhelmed by requests amid the coronavirus crash.
A school district in Deerfield, Illinois, is investigating a phishing email.
A 14-year-old girl was critically injured after a shooting on Chicago's West Side early Saturday morning.
President Trump said Friday that three outlets would be banned from the White House, "effective immediately."
Heavy rain and storms are prompting flooding concerns in the Chicago area on Saturday.
An off duty Cook County Sheriff's correctional officer was among three men injured in a shooting during fight in River North early Saturday morning.
President Trump said Friday that three outlets would be banned from the White House, "effective immediately."
Fuel prices continue to climb across the country, and that has U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) pointing the finger at President Trump.
Americans are optimistic about scientific advances in AI, but concerned that AI may take jobs.
The vice president headlines a Council Bluffs rally Friday, his second Iowa stop this year. He's been one of the GOP's most visible midterm surrogates, with trips to Kansas, Wisconsin and Ohio.
Adm. Brad Cooper provided updates on U.S. efforts to get oil out of the Persian Gulf after a bad week of news on the energy markets.
Fuel prices continue to climb across the country, and that has U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) pointing the finger at President Trump.
Nicor customers will get a break on their bills this fall after Illinois Attorney General Kwame Roul reached an agreement with the utility to cut $140 million from its requested rate hike.
Drivers in Chicago and beyond were paying the highest gas prices ever recorded for the Labor Day holiday as millions of Americans were making their way home on Monday.
Around 115 million domestic and international tourists visited Illinois last year, pushing visitor spending past $50 billion for the first time and generating more than $88 billion in total economic impact.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a lawsuit Thursday against ABC Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric Inc., alleging deceptive business practices.
Nearly half of Americans with medical debt owe at least $2,000, forcing them to make tough choices, new research shows.
A judge on Tuesday was expected to place two shuttered Chicago-area safety-net hospitals into receivership.
Cardinal Blase Cupich and a group of Catholic nuns have joined a federal lawsuit challenging Illinois' Medical Aid in Dying law, which is set to take effect in just over a week.
Flies have been everywhere this summer in the Chicago area, and some of them bite. But why is this happening?
Prime Healthcare is drawing criticism after announcing it will stop obstetrics services at three Chicago-area hospitals.
The future of Rate Field was back in the spotlight on Wednesday.
Plans for a new Chicago White Sox stadium in the South Loop have residents near the existing ballpark in Bridgeport concerned, not just because the team might be leaving, but also what might be coming nearby.
A new report from the University of Illinois Chicago said federal immigration enforcement led to $1.26 billion in unspent money at retail establishments and restaurants in Cook County.
Around 115 million domestic and international tourists visited Illinois last year, pushing visitor spending past $50 billion for the first time and generating more than $88 billion in total economic impact.
A new Whole Foods Market is coming to Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.
Duncan Sheik died on Thursday night, his family said.
Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham and Finneas all released statements Tuesday on Instagram saying they were withdrawing from Ed Sheeran's tour.
Performer Macklemore is being dropped from Ed Sheeran's Loop tour after making on-stage statements that some found controversial.
Dubbed the "Designer to the Stars," Bob Mackie won nine Emmy Awards, a Tony Award and was nominated for three Oscars.
The stage was set and the air was humid as rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, took the stage for the first of two Chicago concerts at Soldier Field Thursday night.
Chris Dingwall and Daniel Schullman join CBS News Chicago.
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A 14-year-old girl was critically injured after a shooting on Chicago's West Side early Saturday morning.
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An off duty Cook County Sheriff's correctional officer was among 3 men injured in a shooting in River North.
Heavy rain and storms are prompting flooding concerns in the Chicago area on Saturday.
A 14-year-old girl was critically injured after a shooting on Chicago's West Side early Saturday morning.
A school district in Deerfield, Illinois, is investigating a phishing email.
President Trump said Friday that three outlets would be banned from the White House, "effective immediately."
The village of Grayslake is touting a new massive data center, but neighbors say they weren't given an opportunity to make their voices heard before the project was approved.
A Cicero woman is suing Uber and a driver after the driver allegedly sexually assaulted her. She and her boyfriend said Uber hired him despite the driver having a criminal background.
Both hospitals were supposed to be placed in receivership, but after five hours of closed-door negotiations on Tuesday, it is still unclear what the future holds for both hospitals.
Chicago police crime data show 255 reported crimes in the last two years on the two blocks where the former Hard Rock and Rainforest cafés sit vacant. Neighbors have been calling the city about the alley between them for six years.
A three-year effort by the Cook County Sheriff's Office to help bring down crime on the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago appears to be working.
Hao-Yu Lee and Riley Greene each hit a two-run homer in a five-run eighth inning as the Detroit Tigers rallied from six down to beat the Chicago White Sox 11-8.
Jose Trevino lined a two-run single to right field with the bases loaded in the seventh inning and the Cincinnati Reds rallied for a 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
With heavy rain in the forecast on Saturday night, the White Sox have moved up their game against the Detroit Tigers.
Munetaka Murakami hit his team-leading 32nd home run as the Chicago White Sox tied with Cleveland for first place in the AL Central with a 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers.
Chicago Bears starting right tackle Darnell Wright returned to practice in a limited fashion on Thursday, a day after missing practice with a knee injury, but it's the defense that's getting some renewed focus after a rough opener against the Panthers.
An off duty Cook County Sheriff's correctional officer was among three men injured in a shooting during fight in River North early Saturday morning.
A man was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after firing shots at an Indiana State Police trooper and fleeing the scene on Friday afternoon in rural LaPorte County.
A second person has been charged with killing a man by pushing him out of a moving CTA Red Line train last week on the South Side.
Darreon Plummer's flight to Washington state after Da'J Flowers was killed was itself evidence he committed the crime, the judge said, rejecting a defense request for electronic monitoring.
Inside the home, owned by Eugene Horsch and connected to his father, R.C. Horsch, authorities have found a trove of digital images, a so-called laboratory of chemicals and a small marijuana grow operation.
