The Illinois Dept of Employment Security

Last September I applied for unemployment benefits in the state of Illinois. Long story short, I stated on my application that I had quit my job to go to school (true), but for financial reasons that did not work out. At the time, I did not know that you can’t get unemployment if you have left your job voluntarily.

I received a claimant form stating REASON FOR LEAVING: VOLUNTARY. Fine.

Then I received a letter stating I had indicated I was discharged on my application and that I was being denied benefits.

On the advice of people more experienced in these matters, I wrote a letter disputing the IDOES’s claim that I stated I was discharged. I stated in my letter that I was NOT interested in appealing their denial (I had found work by this point). My sole reason for writing was to protect my relationship with my former employer, as the IDOES had contacted them regarding this matter. I don’t know what transpired in that contact, and I wanted to make it clear that I did not lie on my application. (I sent a copy of the letter and the claimant form to my former employer as some sort of proof.)

Anyway. The next letter I receive from the IDOES was… you guessed it – a notice they had filed an appeal on my behalf.

I’ve composed another letter requesting they withdraw the appeal, as I did not request it, nor did I agree to have an appeal filed on my behalf. What are the chances this will happen? I don’t want or need the damn money. I just want these people to go away and leave me alone now. They seem to have some sort of chronic reading comprehension problem.

Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing?

Thanks!

EDIT: No one may see this, since it’s so far down in the posts now, but I just wanted to let y’all know that in cases of requesting a withdrawal of appeal, which I have done, it may be faster to fax the administrative judge a request for withdrawal once a hearing has been set. I did this yesterday; hopefully it will pan out well. Also, it appears that my relationship with my former employer is protected, as my former boss sent me a short e-mail expressing sympathy. Hopefully this will be resolved soon. Wish me luck!