ROCKFORD — People seeking help with jobless claims should have in-person access to local employment offices, according to a group of state representatives from the area.
A resolution filed by state Rep. Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, calls on the Illinois Department of Employment Security to reopen employment offices across the state that have been shut down since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
IDES offices can safely reopen using COVID-19 public health guidelines, including social distancing and the wearing of masks or face coverings, Sosnowski said.
“At this point, there is no justifiable reason why essential government services like those provided by IDES cannot resume in-person to serve working families whose livelihoods have been impacted by the pandemic,” he said. “We’re talking about helping folks deal with unemployment claims or modifications and other issues, including fraud.”