New Illinois Requirement to Get Unemployment Benefits

Want to apply for unemployment benefits in Illinois? If you hope to get a check from the state, you'll need to do this first.

Beginning next week, all applicants will be required to upload a resume at IllinoisJobLink.com before collecting any benefits from the state, according to mystateline.com. The hope is that this new requirement will help connect job-seekers to  over 200,000 jobs available.

Once you file your claim for benefits, you have up to 26 weeks to receive them. This new mandate should cut that time in half.