Unemployment Triage: Helping Patrons After a Layoff

As good librarians, many of us are familiar with the Illinois Department of Employment Security. This is where we can find online applications for unemployment benefits, as well as links to many other resources. Some of the other resources are difficult to come by, so I'm hoping to create a mini-resource here.

I am usually long-winded but there is sometimes a need for an easy, to-the-point post. Here is a list of quick links to help a patron who has recently become unemployed:

• Click here for the link to apply for unemployment online.
• Click here to search for IDES locations, and to see contact information including hours and services offered. This is for individuals who would prefer to speak to a representative in person, or would like to use the computer at an IDES support location.
• Click here for the link to DHS: Illinois Department of Health and Human Services, or the helpline phone number: 1-800-843-6154 for help with housing, healthcare, or mental health information.
• Click here for a list of company specific resources created and managed by Illinois workNet (example, Caterpillar, Aramark)
• Click here for a list of Illinois and national Veteran Services links.
• Click here for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

I hope this information is helpful, and please let me know if there are any other librarian-friendly links that I should add.