SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Part of the process of certifying unemployment benefits includes Illinois employers appealing claims, but more than a year into the pandemic, one employer says thatâs not happening. With more open and warmer months ahead, businesses are having problems finding employees to come back to work. Some blame generous unemployment benefits. More than 15,000 Illinoisans filed for additional unemployment benefits last week. Thatâs nearly 1,000 more than filed for the expanded traditional benefits the week before. More than 2,200 independent contractors also applied for benefits, a decrease of around 200 from the previous week. In total, the state has nearly 430,000 people getting benefits, more than 40,000 than the week before.