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Federal Bonding Program through IDES.

IDES can arrange no-cost fidelity bonding that reduces an employer's risk when hiring an eligible applicant who is otherwise difficult to bond.

Offered byIllinois Department of Employment Securityverified 2026-07-10

Overview

What it does.

The bond covers an eligible employee for an initial period and can help people with justice involvement, limited work history, poor credit, or other barriers secure wage-paying employment.

Best for: Employers ready to hire a qualified candidate whose background creates a commercial bonding barrier.

Eligibility

Who and what may qualify.

Eligible applicants

  • Employers hiring an at-risk applicant who cannot obtain employment without bonding
  • Eligible wage-earning job applicants with a firm job offer

Applicants excluded by the source

  • Self-employed people
  • Applicants seeking bail, license, contract, or performance bonds

Eligible uses

  • No-cost fidelity bond protecting an employer against employee dishonesty, theft, forgery, larceny, or embezzlement

Uses excluded by the source

  • Poor workmanship
  • Job injuries
  • Work accidents
  • Bail or contract obligations

Application

How to start.

  1. Confirm the applicant has a firm job offer and start date.
  2. Submit the IDES issuance form or contact the state bonding coordinator before the employee starts.

Timing: Request before the employee's scheduled start date.

Planning notes

Limits to account for.

  • The person must be an employee earning wages with taxes withheld.
  • Coverage is fidelity insurance, not liability or performance bonding.

May be combined with recruiting and eligible hiring programs when each program's rules are met.

Evidence

Official sources.

  • Fidelity BondingIllinois Department of Employment Security · accessed 2026-07-10