I was let go from my job in Illinois today, and I'm considering whether I should wait until July 5th to file for unemployment. I've done the calculations, and if I wait, my weekly benefit would increase significantly. However, I'd miss out on the first two weeks of pay, which could take over 12 weeks to recover from. I worked at my last job for about 10 months, and it paid me much better than my previous position. I'm feeling anxious about finding a new job, especially since I've only had two interviews despite applying to many places this year. As a single parent with sole custody, the extra financial support would be really helpful if I struggle to secure a decent job soon.