Claiming unemployment benefits during your furlough

To be eligible to file for State of Iowa unemployment benefits you must take an entire calendar week off for your furlough time. Taking a Thursday and Friday off one week, and the Monday thru Wednesday of the next will not be eligible.

The fastest, most efficient way to apply for benefits (file your initial claim) is online. The Internet filing option is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To be able to file a claim online you must meet all of the following criteria:

1. You must have worked in Iowa during the past 18 months (earned Iowa wages);
   
2. You must not have an existing unemployment claim in any other state with money (benefits) still available;
   
3. You must not have an existing Railroad Unemployment claim with any remaining money available;
   
4. If you served in the U.S. military during the past 18 months, you MUST have an Iowa residence;
   
5. If you have earned wages in more than one state in the past 18 months and you want those wages added to your claim, you must live in Iowa.
   

If you do not meet the criteria to file on-line, you should contact a local Workforce Development Center for additional assistance in filing your unemployment claim.


Creating an account

The first step in filing your new, initial claim on-line is to create an account.

You can create your account ahead of time at https://www1.iwd.state.ia.us/registration.nsf/RegChoice, but do not file for benefits until the Monday of your furlough week.


Filing a claim

On the Monday of your furlough week, log in to apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits at https://www1.iwd.state.ia.us/applications.nsf/uiwelcome?openpage&login, where you'll go thru a step-by-step process online:

1. Personal Information and Payment Method,
   
2. Worked in Other State(s),
   
3. Active Duty in Military,
   
4. Worked for Federal Government,
   
5. Filed Within Past Year,
   
6. Withholding,
   
7. Dependents,
   
8. Most Recent Employer,
   
9. Employment Status,
   
10. Your Work Search Requirements,
    
11. Certify and Comments, and
    
12. Submit Claim for Processing.
    

As some point in this you MUST indicate that you applying due to a TEMPORARY LAYOFF, ie: Still Working/Reduced Hours.


How to Claim Benefits Each Week

Each week you are unemployed and want to claim benefit payments, you must certify that you:

1. are unemployed or working reduced hours;
   
2. are able and available for work;
   
3. have not refused any job offers or referrals to a job;
   
4. are actively looking for work (unless waived); and
   
5. are reporting any pay or private pension you may be receiving.
   

Some of these stipulations will not be required as long as you indicated during your initial application that you are unemployed due to a TEMPORARY LAYOFF, ie: Still Working/Reduced Hours.

This is done at the end of the furlough week, starting Saturday morning, by touch-tone telephone or on-line using the continued claims web application at https://uiclaims.iwd.iowa.gov/weeklyclaims/.

Hours You Can File Your Weekly Claim On-line

10 a.m. Saturday to 11:30 p.m. Sunday or 7:30 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. Monday through Friday.

I've been told it's best to wait until late afternoon on Saturday, since the phone lines are flooded in the morning. You would only call in once, after the last day of your furlough, that being Friday.

After that to discontinue receiving benefits you simply need not file another claim.

You should receive your unemployment benefit in about a week according to my source.

Go to http://www.iowaworkforce.org/ui/handbook.htm for more information.


Reapplying for benefits

If you have another week of furlough within one year of your first claim, you can reapply by logging in to your account at Iowa Workforce Development, and going thru the same process of filing a claim as listed above, with two exceptions.

When you are asked if you have applied for or received unemployment insurance benefits in the past 52 weeks, you MUST answer Yes and indentify the State of Iowa as the benefit provider. Also, in the box for comments enter "TLO. Please make immediate release." This will indicate that you are on temporary layoff, and will help to expedite your benefit.