Laid Off, Lost, and Left Wondering: Did I Mess Up My Unemployment Claim?

Hey everyone, I’m feeling pretty lost right now and could really use some advice. I got laid off in February and, honestly, I thought my severance meant I couldn’t apply for unemployment. So, I didn’t even try for the first few weeks. 😓 Four weeks in, I realized maybe I was wrong and finally filed my claim with Illinois IDES. Now they want to know why I waited so long. I’m worried my honest mistake—just not knowing the rules—might mess things up for me. Has anyone else been in this situation? Did thinking you were ineligible end up being a valid reason, or did it backfire? I’d love to hear how you handled it, because right now, I’m just anxious and confused. 🙏 #WorkplaceDilemmas #UnemploymentQuestions #CareerConfusion #JobCareer