Unemployment Insurance
Claims for unemployment insurance
benefits can be filed at any of the four offices in Region 14. You must
meet the following criteria (IWD staff will help you determine this criteria):
-
Be totally or partially unemployed;
-
Have worked and earned a certain
amount of wages in work covered by unemployment insurance in the last 15
to 18 months;
-
Have lost your job through no fault
of your own; and
-
Be able and available for work if
offered to you.
In some cases, you must also be
registered for work at your local Workforce Development Center, and be
actively seeking work.
How To File Your
Claim:
There are several ways to file a claim for
unemployment insurance benefits:
1. You may file
an
Unemployment Insurance Claim Online.
2. You may go to your local Workforce Development
Center. Staff there will assist you in the completion of the paperwork
necessary to submit your claim.
3. You may receive assistance at your local office
to self-file your own claim into the system.
No matter which way you choose to file your
unemployment insurance claim, you will need the following information:
- Your Social Security number;
- The name of your last employer;
- The address of your last employer;
- The start and end dates of your last job;
- Whether or not you will receive vacation pay,
severance, etc.; and
- If you are leaving military service, you will
need a copy of your DD 214.
In all cases, you will receive a booklet called
“Facts About
Unemployment Insurance.” This booklet is full of information about
Unemployment Insurance benefits, eligibility requirements, and how to
report your weekly claim.
Reporting Your
Weekly Claim:
Most eligible Iowans can receive
Unemployment Insurance benefits for up to 26 weeks, and in some cases, 39
weeks. After you have provided the initial information needed to confirm
eligibility, you’ll be asked to provide additional information to continue
to receive benefits.
Each week you will call this toll-free number, 1 (800) 850-5627 to certify
the following:
-
That you are unemployed or working
only reduced hours;
-
That you are able and available to
work;
-
That you have not refused any job
offers or referrals;
-
That you are actively looking for
work (unless waived); and
-
That you are reporting any pay or
pension received.
A computerized Voice Response Unit will
answer, and a prerecorded message will ask you the eligibility questions
one at a time.
-
Iowa Workforce Development Center
resource rooms now include an Intranet application, allowing customers
to self-enter their application for Unemployment Insurance and work
registration during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
-
An Internet application is available,
allowing customers to perform these tasks from any personal computer
with an Internet connection, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
