Iowa Unemployment Weekly Claims

Iowa Unemployment Benefits

Weekly claims are a key part of receiving Iowa unemployment benefits. Managed by Iowa Workforce Development, this process allows claimants to report their employment status and other details every week to continue receiving benefits. Failure to make a weekly claim can affect your eligibility for unemployment compensation.

When filing your Iowa unemployment weekly claims, have the following information ready:

  • Your Social Security number
  • IowaWorks login information (username and password)
  • Total amount of any wages earned during the week
  • Total amount of any holiday, vacation and severance pay

How to file a weekly claim in Iowa

You are required to file weekly claims online via the IowaWorks website. If you don’t have access to a computer, visit your nearest IowaWorks Center where computers are freely available. If you need additional help, call the Iowa Workforce Division.

File your weekly claim online: uiclaims.iwd.iowa.gov/weeklyclaims

You will be asked to verify the following information:

  • You are actively looking for work and performing 4 work search activities each week (unless this requirement is waived for you).
  • You have not refused any job offers or referrals.
  • You are unemployed or working only reduced hours.
  • You are able and available for work

You will also need to report all gross wages, vacation (PTO), severance, and/or holiday pay you received during the week. While any earnings reported can decrease your benefit amount, it’s important to always be honest or

When to file your weekly claim

You can file your weekly claim Sunday through Friday. You cannot file on Saturday.

Available Hours

Sunday: 8 am to 7:30 pm

Monday-Friday: 8 am to 5:30 pm

How to check the status of your claim

You can check the status of your claim by logging in to your online account from Tuesday-Friday: 8:00 am to 5:30 pm.

When filing your weekly claim

During the filing process, you must provide complete and accurate information about your job search and any earned income.

Work Search Requirements

As you file your weekly claim, don’t forget to meet your weekly work search requirements. You need to complete four activities to help you get reemployed. Out of these four, three must be job applications. Make sure to do these activities between Sunday and Saturday of the week for which you’re claiming benefits.

Reporting earnings

When filing your weekly claim, report all your earnings before any taxes or deductions. Include earnings from the week you earned them, not when you get paid. This information is used to calculate your weekly benefit amount, so it’s important to be honest and accurate to avoid committing unemployment fraud.

Make sure to include your gross earnings for the week they are earned, not when you get paid. For instance, if you worked 15 hours at a rate of $16 per hour, you would report $240 (15 hours x $16/hour) as your gross earnings.

Earnings Types and Deductions

Some types of income are partially deductible. You can earn up to 25% of your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) before it affects your benefits. For example, if your WBA is $500 and you earn $450, 25% of $500 is $125, which doesn’t get deducted. The remainder ($450 – $125 = $325) is then deducted from your WBA, leaving you with a $175 benefit for the week.

Other types of income are fully deductible on a dollar-for-dollar basis, including vacation pay and severance pay. So if your WBA is $500 and you get $450 in vacation pay, your benefit payment would be reduced to $50 for that week.

Excessive Earnings:

If your earnings exceed your WBA by $15 or more, these are considered excessive. If you report such earnings for four consecutive weeks, you will need to reactivate your claim to continue receiving payments.

Vacation Pay

Report vacation pay for the first five workdays after your last workday. If you received less than five days’ worth of vacation pay, report the actual amount you got.

The goal is to provide a complete and accurate report of all your earnings to calculate your benefits correctly. This includes not just regular wages but also additional earnings like tips, commissions, and even non-cash benefits like room and board. This ensures that you are reporting correctly and receiving the benefits you’re entitled to.

If you’re eligible for unemployment benefits in Iowa, there are two primary ways to receive your payments: Direct Deposit and the IWD Debit Card. Each payment method has its own set of features and responsibilities, so read on to decide which option is best for you.

Receiving Payment

Direct Deposit

You can opt for your unemployment benefits to be deposited directly into your checking or savings account. Payments typically show up in your account four to five business days after filing your weekly claim, although holidays might cause delays.

To set this up, go to Iowa Workforce Development’s website and input your bank routing and account numbers. Make sure these details are accurate, as you alone are responsible for any errors. Incorrect or unverified information can result in delays or losses that may not be recoverable.

Note that account updates must be made online; paper forms are not accepted for this purpose.

IWD Debit Card

Choosing the IWD Debit Card means you’ll receive a U.S. Bank ReliaCard, which will be mailed to you. Payments get deposited onto this card three to four business days after you file your weekly claim if you meet all eligibility conditions.

If you’ve had a ReliaCard in the last three years, your new payments will be loaded onto that card. Cardholders can check their balance, review transaction history, and set up notifications for balance alerts and deposit confirmations through the ReliaCard website or mobile app.

For any issues, lost cards, or replacements, you’ll need to call the U.S. Bank customer service line at (855) 282-6161. Keep in mind that only Iowa Workforce Development can update your personal details like your name and address for the ReliaCard.

  1. If you are still unemployed at the end of the 26 weeks is there a way to file for extended period of unemployment benifits

    • when you go to the site to sign in for weekly claims and you hit the start here takes you to nothing than a pdf down load nothing abought weekly claims very confusing

      • Brian,

        The .pdf file download might be the weekly ‘Job Search’ form. Please call the Claims Center for further assistance.

  2. I file a claim the week of thanks giving for three days and never received my money it said it was successful so please let me know thank u Lori L Breeden

  3. I’m a little confused I was told to continue doing Job searches weekly but yet my paper says I’m not required to due to I still have a job just had a medical problem which is still going on yet to have surgery I will be returning back to my job as soon as possible but as I said little confused on what do here do I do job searches I am limited to what I can do at this point.

    • Since there is going to be a break in the job searches, please call the Claims Center and report it. They will provide further instructions.

  4. i was working here in iowa for 10 months and i just get laid off, i’m from texas. how can i claim the benefit?

  5. Two questions. If everything went threw ok and I’ll be receiving unemployment out of Iowa when will I receive my first payment? Also if I file on sat. What day will I get my first check on the Iowa debit card the issued me?

  6. If my boyfriend filed in Jan 2016 for 2 weeks worth of unemployment, then went back to work. Would he be eligible to receive benefits now that he is laid off for the winter?

    • If he is into a seasonal job, he will not qualify for scheduled time off from work.

      Please call the Unemployment Office for further details.

  7. I need to fill unemployment in the State of Iowa. That was my last Employer’s address. I reside in the State of NV. NV Unemployment office said I had to file thru State of Iowa. So what is the web site I need to do so in the State of Iowa.

  8. Is it true that layedoff workers can collect for one year, if they make 250 dollars from a business that pays into workforce? What if that worker were to move to Florida?

    • One can collect up to 26 weeks of state sponsored benefits.The cap on the number of weeks is based on state labor laws.

      If you’ve moved to another state,please consider filing from the state where you last worked.

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