When should I file for unemployment?
When filing for unemployment in Iowa, it is important to file as soon as you are aware that you have become unemployed or have had your hours reduced to part time work. Applicants do not need to have their pink slips or severance packages ready in order to apply for unemployment benefits. The required documents can always be sent in afterwards, and will not affect the final result of your application process. The earlier you file for an unemployment claim the better, as Iowa does not provide benefits for any weeks prior to you filing your application. Not having all of your documents may delay you from receiving your benefits, but it will not reduce the amount of weeks that you receive benefits. If you are looking for the fastest way to file for unemployment, try to file an online application for unemployment, that way you can you can start the process on the same day.
What documents do I need to file for unemployment?
While you do not need documents to begin to file for an unemployment claim in Iowa, you will need them to complete you claim. Once you have begun to file for unemployment, you will need to gather the following documents and either submit them in your online application for unemployment or through the mail:
• Social Security Number
• Name, payroll address and telephone number of your last employer
• Start and end dates of your last job
• Information indicating whether or not you will receive vacation pay, severance, etc.
• Alien registration number, or any documents authorizing you to work in the United States, in the case that you are not a U.S citizen or permanent refugee.
• A 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, date of birth, and social security number of any dependents that are claimed as exemptions on your federal income tax return.
Where to Register for Unemployment Benefits
Today, unemployed residents of Iowa have two options on where to register for unemployment benefits. An applicant can choose to go directly to the Iowa unemployment web portal, in which they will be able to quickly and easily access all information regarding their claim, or the applicant can register for unemployment over the phone through a claims representative. Both methods allow the applicant to follow up with their biweekly claims.
How to apply for Unemployment Online or Over the Phone
If you are looking for the most convenient way to file for an unemployment claim in Iowa, you can fill out an online application for unemployment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As previously discussed, you will want to file for unemployment as early on as possible, making an online application a smart and convenient choice. With an online application, you will also be able to easily select your payment method and file your biweekly claims without having to speak to a claims representative.
If you prefer the person-to-person experience, you may prefer to file for unemployment over the phone with an unemployment benefits representative. When your initial claim process is complete, you will also be able to file your bi-weekly claims over the phone through an automated system.
Claims do not usually take effect until the Sunday of the week in which you filed, so be sure to choose whichever method will allow you to file for unemployment in the most timely manner.
