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.
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