Unemployment Insurance
Requirements for
Unemployment Benefits
-
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 IowaWORKS Center, and be
actively seeking work.
Filing 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 IowaWORKS
Center. Computers are available for you to self file via the Intranet.
IowaWORKS
Centers.
3. Go to your nearest Virtual Access Point (VAP)
for expanded access to connect with a workforce professional. Our staff members are available through:
Live Chat or a toll-free
866-239-0843 from:
8:00AM – 8:00PM Monday through Friday
and 10:00AM –
2:00 PM on Saturdays.
A link to our VAP locations is provided:
Virtual Access
Points
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.;
- The bank routing number and your
account number for direct deposit of benefits
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
Most Iowans can
receive unemployment insurance benefits for up to 26 weeks, and in some
cases 39 weeks. After you provide the initial information needed to
confirm your eligibility, you will be asked to provide additional
information to continue to receive payments.
Each week you will be asked to
certify that you:
-
Are unemployed or working only
reduced hours;
-
Are able and available for work;
-
Have not refused any job offers
or referrals;
-
Are actively looking for work
(unless waived);
-
Are reporting any pay or pension
you may be receiving.
As always, your mandatory weekly
reporting on your unemployment can be accomplished by calling 800-850-5627
or go on line at:
File you
weekly claim
A computer Voice Response Unit (VRU) will
answer and a prerecorded message will ask you the eligibility questions
one at a time.
"Coping with Unemployment - What to Do When You're Out of Work"
Life Skills Education:
This pamphlet and many others are available at your local Workforce Development Partnership office. In addition to income support, the Workforce Development Partnership offers resources and workshops to help you deal with the loss of a job and return to the workforce.
Some individuals receiving unemployment insurance may be identified as being at risk for long term unemployment. You may receive notification to participate in the Reemployment Services
(RES) program designed to help you return to the workforce as quickly as possible.
RES participants will attend a special orientation outlining available options. Following the orientation each individual will have the opportunity to meet with one of our professional staffing specialists to develop their personal job search plan.
