If you’ve lost your job, Iowa Workforce Development is here to help and has the tools you need to begin your reemployment path. Learn how to file for benefits and begin the process for reemployment in just a few steps.
Iowans filing for unemployment insurance (UI) claims must meet several requirements to receive benefits. Claimants must apply for benefits on a weekly basis, fulfill work search requirements, and be actively looking for work.
Applying for benefits starts with filing your initial claim. If you’ve already filed your initial claim, you will continue to file on a weekly basis if you wish to receive unemployment insurance benefits. Learn more about how to file your weekly claim.
First, Make Sure You're Eligible
To qualify for benefits, claimants must:
- Have lost their job through no fault of their own and be totally or partially unemployed.
- Have worked and earned a minimum amount of wages over the last 15 to 18 months documented in the UI system.
- Be able and available for work and actively seeking work.
- Be able to verify identify, either via online verification or provided documents
- Be registered for work and fulfill weekly work search requirements in their job search (minor exemptions can apply).
Questions? Get help with the following resources:
- Unemployment Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Unemployment Insurance Benefits Handbook
- UI customer service:
- Visit this page
- Or contact IWD by calling 1-866-239-0843 or emailing uiclaimshelp@iwd.iowa.gov.
Prepare to Apply for Unemployment
Ensure that you have required information ready to go:
- Social security number
- Name, payroll address and telephone number of your last employer
- Start and end dates of your last job; information on whether or not you will receive vacation pay, severance, etc.
- Alien registration number (if not a U.S. citizen or permanent refugee)
- DD-214 (Member 4) if you served in the U.S. military during the last 18 months
- Standard Form 8 (SF-8) if you worked for the federal government in the last 18 months
- Name(s), date(s) of birth, and social security number(s) of any dependents that are claimed as exemptions on your federal income tax return
Note:
- You will be asked to verify your identity by answering security questions.
- Spouses may be claimed as a dependent if their gross wages were $120.00 or less in the week prior to filing your claim.
- Self-employment does not count as gross wages for dependent purposes.
Submit Your Unemployment Application
Applying for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits can be done during the following times:
- Monday – Friday: 6:00 am - 6:30 pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 6:00 am - 7:30 pm
Iowans can apply in the following places:
- Filing for benefits online (fastest and most efficient way)
- Filing at a local IowaWORKS center
Next Steps and Registering for Work
After applying, it may take time to process your application and start receiving benefits. In the meantime, please continue to do the following:
- File a weekly claim every week online while your claim is processing.
- When applying for UI benefits, you must also register for work and complete reemployment activities on a weekly basis.
- Learn about how to register, and then head to IowaWORKS.gov.
- Fulfill your weekly work search requirements.
- Learn about what reemployment activities are eligible and how to get support on your path to reemployment.
- Learn about what reemployment activities are eligible and how to get support on your path to reemployment.
Related Agencies and Services
Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (Unemployment Insurance Appeals and Labor Division Section)
Address:
6200 Park Avenue, Suite 100, Des Moines, IA 50321
Labor Division: (515) 242-5870
Labor Division Wage Section: (515) 725-5619
Unemployment Insurance Appeals - Fax: (515) 478-3528
Unemployment Insurance Appeals - In Iowa: (800) 532-1483
Unemployment Insurance Appeals - Outside Iowa: (800) 247-5205
Iowa Workforce Development (Unemployment Insurance Benefits and Tax)
Address:
1000 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50319
Unemployment Insurance Benefits: (866) 239-0843
Unemployment Insurance Tax: (888) 848-7442