St. Sen. Brian Stewart says gig workers still can’t use the Illinois Department of Employment Security web site to file unemployment claims. The Freeport Republican says the federal stimulus law says self-employed workers in the gig economy are eligible for benefits. But they have to go through their states to get them.
Stewart says other states have updated their claims systems, but Illinois has not. He’s calling on Gov. Pritzker to make the state make the update right away. Stewart says lawmakers have been told the update won’t happen until May 11.