Metro East Sun

With issues with the state’s Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) still raging, state Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Shelbyville) is demanding that Springfield take immediate action.

“I continue to call on the governor, the Speaker of the House, the Senate president and members of the majority party to publicly call for the General Assembly to reconvene,” Plummer told Metro East Sun. “It is a disservice to the people of Illinois that we are MIA during these trying times. We continue to receive calls regarding fraudulent cards.”

The Center Square reports that IDES is now probing more 212,000 suspected claims, with many of them targeting individuals that rated as their companies' highest earners. With the state having issued more than $17 billion in unemployment assistance since the beginning of the pandemic, IDES Rebecca Cisco claims much of the potential fraud can be blamed on data breaches outside the confines of the agency. 

Plummer is quick to point out quirks in the system run a lot deeper than just some residents being left vulnerable to fraud attempts.

“Some Illinoisans continue to struggle accessing their legitimate unemployment benefits,” Plummer said. “If you are still having these issues please do not hesitate to call us.”

In addition, several media outlets are also reporting a growing number of state residents are being asked to reimburse the government for assistance they received through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

“Do not hesitate to call us,” Plummer said for anyone being targeted. “IDES is a mess and the numerous failures from this department, along with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s inept leadership, have caused countless problems and hardships for Illinois families and small businesses.”