Content Information
Required Information
Before starting your application, have the following ready:
- Your Social Security Number
- Full Names, Social Security Numbers, birthdates, and relationships of any dependents (up to four)
- Your full mailing address, including apartment/lot number and zip code
- Your phone number
- Your bank account and routing number (for direct deposit)
- Your most recent employer’s name (from pay stubs or W-2 forms)
- If you have worked for a temporary/staffing agency, use the agency’s name, not the client’s name
- Your start and end dates with your most recent job
- Your reason for leaving your most recent job
- A lack of work is not considered being fired
- If you are not a U.S. citizen, your work authorization number and expiration date
- If you served in the military during the past 18 months, your DD 214 Member #4 Form.
- If you worked for the federal government during the past 18 months, your Standard Form 8 or Standard Form 50
Filing for Unemployment Insurance is a Two-Step Process
Before you Apply: Registering an Account in IowaWORKS
When you file for unemployment benefits, you will now complete all steps in the IowaWORKS system (iowaworks.gov). To file a claim, you will need to register for an individual account on iowaworks.gov with your information. This step ensures that you can safely file for unemployment, provide the correct payment information, and completely the weekly steps that are required to receive benefits.
Instructions for logging into iowaworks.govwill depend on whether or not you've had an IowaWORKS account before. if you don't have an IowaWORKS account, you can register in just a few minutes at the same time that you need to file a claim.
List items for Handbook Instructions: Registering or Logging Into IowaWORKS
If you’ve never filed an unemployment claim in Iowa, simply visit iowaworks.gov to get started.
- Once on the site, select “Sign In/Register” and then “Individual.”
- Once on the login screen, scroll down and select "Individual Registration" and follow the steps to register.
- During this process, you also will be required to verify your identity through multi-factor authentication.
- After registering, you will see a section for unemployment services and clear instructions on how to file your claim.
If your occupation makes you exempt from searching for work during seasonal layoffs, you could be “new” to the iowaworks.gov system even though you’ve filed previous unemployment claims with IWD. If this situation applies to you, take the following steps on June 3 or after:
- Visit iowaworks.gov and select the link for “Sign In/Register" and then "Individual."
- On the next screen, scroll down and select "Individual Registration" and then follow the steps.
- Once you reach new registration, the system will ask you to enter your Social Security Number.
- If IWD has a record of a previous claim filed by you, the system will recognize your SSN and ask you if you want to recover your old account.
- During this process, it will show you the username we’ve created (usually your email address, if we have it) and force you to reset your password.
- After completing this process, the previous account information will be fully transferred into the new system, and you will only use iowaworks.gov moving forward.
- Note: If you're having issues with logging in, contact our customer service.
You should be able to log into the system as usual using your iowaworks.gov login information and password. (Usually your email.)
- Visit iowaworks.govand select "Sign In/Register" and then "individual" to log in.
- At the log in screen, use the same credentials that you've used before to log into IowaWORKS.
- Once logged in, you will see options for both career services and unemployment. Selecting the unemployment services option will take you to a hub where you will be able to handle all of the steps involving your claim, including filing new and weekly claims.
Step One: File Your Initial Claim Application
You must file your initial claim online or at an IowaWORKS Center during the first week you want to get paid. You won’t receive payments for any weeks before your claim’s effective date. No exceptions.
The unemployment week is from Sunday to Saturday, and your claim will start on the Sunday of the week you file.
Once you submit your claim, you’ll see a confirmation page with a confirmation number. Save this number for your records. In your IowaWORKS portal you will receive important information and next steps regarding your unemployment claim.
Identity Verification
When you apply for unemployment benefits, you'll need to verify your identity using ID.me.
- This usually only happens once. (In rare cases, you may need to verify again.)
- After that, each week when you file for benefits, simply log in to your verified ID.me account and complete Multi-Factor Authentication. This keeps your account secure and helps prevent fraud.
IWD offers three ways to verify your identity with ID.me:
- Online Self-Service
- Video Chat with an Agent
- In-Person Verification
For more details, visit workforce.iowa.gov/verify.
Step Two: File Your Weekly Certification
Filing a weekly claim online is required to keep getting unemployment benefits. If you don’t file your weekly certification, you won’t get paid for that week. No exceptions.
You may file your weekly claim for benefits beginning Sunday at 12:01 am to Friday at 11:59 pm. There is no weekly reporting available on Saturday.
Preparing to File the Weekly Certification
When filing your weekly certification, have the following information ready:
- Your Username and Password
- Your SSN
- Total gross wages (before deductions) earned during the week
- Total gross holiday, vacation, and severance pay, if applicable
- Your reemployment activities (if required)
When to File Weekly Certification
Start filing your weekly certification the first Sunday after you file your initial claim. You must file a weekly certification every week. If you don’t file your weekly certification, you won’t get paid for that week. No exceptions.
Example: If you filed your initial claim on Wednesday, you would file your first weekly certification on Sunday.
| Week | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Start of UI claim Apply for unemployment the first week for which you wish to be paid | ||||||
| Week 2 | First day to file your weekly claim for week 1 | File weekly claim for week 1 | File weekly claim for week 1 | File weekly claim for week 1 | File weekly claim for week 1 | File weekly claim for week 1 | No weekly claim filing available |
| Week 3 | First day to file your weekly claim for week 2 | File weekly claim for week 2 | File weekly claim for week 2 | File weekly claim for week 2 | File weekly claim for week 2 | File weekly claim for week 2 | No weekly claim filing available |
| Week 4 | First day to file your weekly claim for week 3 | File weekly claim for week 3 | File weekly claim for week 3 | File weekly claim for week 3 | File weekly claim for week 3 | File weekly claim for week 3 | No weekly claim filing available |
Confirmation of Weekly Certification Submitted
You will receive a confirmation page letting you know that your weekly certification has been successfully submitted.
What to Report on the Weekly Certification
You must report all gross earnings and gross wages on the weekly certification. Wages are reportable when earned, not when paid. Gross earnings or gross wages are your earnings before taxes or other payroll deductions are made. For additional information, please refer to the page on reportable income.
Claim Effective Date
The benefit week runs from Sunday to Saturday. The effective date of all unemployment claims is the Sunday of the week you file the application. The effective date of the claim will not be changed for applications that were filed late.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible, you must:
- Be totally or partially unemployed through no fault of your own
- Been paid wages by covered employers in at least two quarters of the base period
- Earn at least 1.25 times the wages earned in your highest base period quarter
- Have wages of at least $2,070 in one quarter and at least $1,030 in a different quarter
- Be able and available for work
To remain eligible, you must:
- Actively seek work (work search may be waived in some cases)
- Be registered for work online with iowaworks.gov or at a local IowaWORKS center
- Enter and certify your weekly reemployment activities in IowaWORKS
- Report any job offers you refused on your weekly claim
- Report if you quit or are fired from a job while claiming benefits
- Report if you move or leave the area for more than three days
- Report all wages when earned, not when paid
- Report if you receive workers’ compensation or a private pension
- Report if you enroll in or start school
Reactivating a Claim
You can start and stop claiming unemployment benefits as needed during the benefit year. This is called a break in reporting status. If you take a break, you must refile your claim online in the week you want to start collecting benefits again. Any work during the break must be reported.
Remember to file your weekly certification every week. Filing a weekly claim online is required to keep getting unemployment benefits. If you don’t file your weekly certification, you won’t get paid for that week. No exceptions. If you miss a week, you will not be eligible for payment until you reactivate your claim.