The Illinois Department of Employment Security says they are doing better getting people signed up for unemployment benefits. 

The Acting Director of IDES Kristen Richards says the headcount at the start of the pandemic was half of what it was a decade ago. That lack of people inside the office and the remarkable demand for claims overwhelmed IDES.

IDES says now there is order to the call center and more than 1 million callbacks have been completed and everyone is guaranteed a call back.

IDES claims to have improved the certification process for those receiving benefits - and that keeps more people certified and cuts down on the need for anyone to call them in the first place.