Independent contractors who file 1099 forms with the IRS are not yet eligible for unemployment benefits, but the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) is urging contract workers who have lost work due to COVID-19 to apply now using the existing unemployment system.
Workers who believe they may be eligible for new federal benefits under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program must first apply for regular unemployment insurance before applying for benefits under PUA when…
