
In February 2002, the DWP told claimants that they ‘ should not be concerned if they hear a “human like” voice when they contact us’ because the DWP are introducing ‘Conversational Platform’ software to answer some phone queries.
Why we are asking about the PIP Enquiry LineĬall waiting times on the vast majority of DWP phone lines have been terrible for a very long time.
If you got an answer, was it from a human or was it an Artificial Intelligence chatbot?. How long did you wait for an answer, if you got one at all?. Which day, and what time of day, did you call?. Please use the comments section below to keep other readers updated on what kind of service is being provided right now and what they can expect when they call. An employer’s failure to contribute to the unemployment system will not impact a claimant’s eligibility for benefits.Tell our readers what happened when you called the PIP Enquiry Line on 08. Even if an individual’s employer does not consider the worker to be covered and doesn’t pay unemployment taxes on the individual’s wages, the individual can qualify for regular UI benefits if IDES determines he or she is covered under Illinois law. It is possible that whoever told them they were not covered was wrong. In Illinois, every individual who is unemployed or underemployed should file a claim for unemployment benefits, even if they have been told they're not covered by the state’s regular unemployment insurance program - because they’re an independent contractor, part of the “gig economy,” or for some other reason. You may be eligible for regular unemployment insurance, as a “1099 employee” is not synonymous with “independent contractor” as defined by the Unemployment Insurance Act. I receive a 1099 for the job(s) I do as an independent contractor. That exception is when an individual quits a job because a licensed and practicing physician deems them unable to perform the work or when their employer is unable to accommodate the individual’s need to care for a family member who has been verified to be in poor health or to have a disability. However, there is an exception to the requirement that the reason for leaving is due to the employer. This individual also must prove that they left their job due to their employer. Individuals can be considered able and available to work if there is some work that they could perform from home (e.g., transcribing, data entry, virtual assistant services).
For example, the individual must be able and available for work, and show that they are seeking work from home. However, to qualify for UI, they would still need to meet all other eligibility requirements. What if I can’t leave my home because I must care for my child during the pandemic or because I have COVID-19?Īn individual in any of those situations would be unemployed through no fault of their own and might be eligible for UI benefits.