Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) Extended Training Benefits and Department Approved Training
What kinds of training
will qualify?
What information will I
need?
You will need the name and address of your school, the dates of your
classes, and a copy of your class schedule or enrollment verification.
Can I get financial aid?
Your local workforce center can help you research and find financial aid
information, but you should also check out these web sites:
www.opportunity.gov,
www.iowacollegeaid.org and
www.icansucceed.org. The Iowa
College Student Aid Commission can also be reached toll-free at (877)
272-4476 or online at
www.iowacollegeaid.org. All Iowa colleges have financial aid offices
that can help you apply for a Pell Grant scholarship. Pell Grant
applications are available 24/7 at
www.fafsa.ed.gov or by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)
during business hours. You will need to report last year’s income when
applying, but your educational institution can adjust your eligibility
to reflect your current circumstances.
Where will I send my
school information (schedules, etc)?
The best thing to do is bring in your information to your local Iowa
Workforce Center to ensure you have the application filled out correctly
and the correct information that is needed to apply. You can also fax
the information to (515) 242-0444 or mail it to:
UI Service Center-TEB
P O Box 10332
Des Moines IA 50306-0332
A program brochure and a list of
High Demand Occupations are
available here.
Q: Are Training
Extension Benefits (TEB) the same as Department Approved Training (DAT)?
A: No, because if you qualify under this program, you could receive up
to an additional 26 weeks of benefits after your regular and extension
benefits have exhausted. These benefits are only payable while you are
going to school. If you discontinue school, TEB is no longer available.
Q: If I am on DAT and run out of benefits, can I qualify for TEB?
A: TEB is only payable after you have exhausted all payments on regular
and extension unemployment insurance benefits. Your DAT must meet the
specific requirements for TEB. Your application for TEB must be received
before the end of your benefit year.
Q: I have already been approved for TEB, but I have not started to
receive my benefits?
A: There could be many issues wrong with your claim. Visit your local
workforce center to find out if there is additional information that is
needed. When you go into the office, be sure to take in your current
school schedule and you grades for the prior term in case they need that
information. There is a possibility they have the information, but this
will ensure you don’t have to make another trip and you can get your
issue resolved.
Q: When should I apply
for Training Extension Benefits?
A: You can apply at anytime while you are claiming benefits. The earlier
the better so you know if you will be approved for the program. You must
apply within your benefit year of your claim and no later than 30 days
from the time you ran out of money.
Q: I am currently
receiving TEB and I just scheduled my classes for my next term. Should I
send in that schedule?
A: No, wait until you are sent a notice from the TEB unit requesting the
schedule and grades. Be sure to send all information together so your
payments are not delayed. There will be an address and fax number on
that letter to send the information to. Use that letter as the
coversheet when you are sending it in.
Q: Do I have to get all
A’s?
A: No, you just need to show us that you are attending your training and
showing satisfactory progress. We will need you to provide your class
schedules and grades while you are receiving the benefits.
Q: What will my weekly
amount be?
A: The amount you are paid on TEB will be the same weekly benefit amount
as you were receiving on your regular unemployment payments.
Q: How long will my
benefits last?
A: The TEB program is for up to 26 weeks of payments. Some people may
not receive the full 26 weeks because they finish school before they
have received all 26 weeks or their claim reaches 2 years past the date
from the Sunday date of when they originally filed. For example, if you
filed your unemployment claim for the first time on 06/25/08, that claim
would have been 2 years old as of 06/19/10. Therefore, you would not be
able to receive TEB after the 06/19/10 date.
Q: When does TEB start?
A: Your benefits would begin the week you run out of all other
unemployment benefits that you are eligible for. Make sure you have
brought in your most recent school schedule to your local workforce
office to be sure we have all the information that is needed to start
your benefits. If there is more information that we need, you will hear
from the TEB Unit by telephone or by mail. Make sure every time you are
in the local office that your address and phone number is accurate.
Q: How will I know am
eligible for TEB?
A: Once you apply for TEB you will receive a letter in the mail of
approval or denial within 1-2 weeks after you apply. If you have
exhausted benefits, keep reporting your weekly claim as normal and once
your benefits start the payments will issue out to you. Once you are
actually placed on TEB you will receive another decision letter stating
the length of time and the amount you will receive.
Q: What if I haven’t
started school yet and my benefits exhaust?
A: TEB is only payments for when you are enrolled and attending school.
If you have exhausted your benefits and you don’t start school for a few
weeks you will not receive payments until your classes start.
Q: Do I need to be enrolled full time?
A: No, you must at least be enrolled half-time in college classes. You
need to find out what your school considers a full-time class schedule
and you must be enrolled in half of that.
Q: Will TEB pay for the
classes?
A: No, TEB is an extension on your unemployment benefits. It is not
intended to pay for your courses unless you wish to use it for that.
Q: Why did my TEB
unemployment benefits stop?
A: There can be many factors as to why your benefits are not paying. We
may need an updated school schedule and grades for a prior semester, or
we may need to extend your TEB because you are going to school longer
than the original application stated. The best thing to do is go to your
local workforce office and bring in your current school schedule and
grades for your prior term.
Q: Will I have to
provide my grades to you?
A: We will send out a letter a week before the end of your term
requesting a schedule for the next term and the grades from the one you
are finishing. You will have 20 days to respond to that letter. Use that
letter as the coversheet when you send it back in and be sure to sign
and date the letter first. If that letter is not sent back in before the
due date on the bottom of the letter your continued benefits could be
delayed.
Q: Can I take courses
online?
A: Yes, if you can provide us with a course schedule of classes you are
taking, and it is through a reputable school we will accept that for the
program. The occupational goal you are working towards must also be on
our high demand occupation list also.
Q: I have graduated school and have not been able to find a job. Can
I still receive TEB payments?
A: No, the payments are only for when you are enrolled and attending
approved college courses. Once you are finished with school, you cannot
receive any more TEB.
Q: I am going to school
for my GED. Can I apply for TEB?
A: Yes, GED is an approved goal for TEB. You will be required to send in
attendance sheets signed by your GED instructors on a monthly basis to
prove you are attending school.
Q: I have finished the
training program that I was working on and now I want to further my
education for an advanced degree. Can I still receive TEB?
A: Yes, as long as the occupation goal is still on the High Demand
Occupation list. You must also still have benefits available on your
claim. Even though you are enrolling into new course or possibly even a
new school, you are not entitled to another 26 weeks of payment.
Q: I was offered a
part-time job. Can I work and receive TEB?
A: Yes, you need to report your gross(before tax)wages that you earn
each week you file your weekly claim. The reporting dates are from
Sunday to Saturday so whatever you earned that week you would need to
report when you file your claim. When you start your new job, you should
check with your local workforce office to see if once you start you
could be eligible for regular unemployment payments again on any other
claims you have filed in the past.
Q: I received a letter
in the mail stating I am approved for Department Approved Training
(DAT). Does that mean I am now eligible for TEB?
A: No, you must apply for both programs separately. If you have not
already filled out an application for TEB, you must do that in your
local office. DAT has fewer restrictions than TEB so by being approved
for DAT does not automatically approve you for TEB. Each unit is
separate and you must be sure that they both have your schedules each
term to remain on the program.
Extended Training Benefits and Department Approved Training Home Page
Iowa
Workforce Development