State Unemployment Benefits in Iowa

State Unemployment Benefits in Iowa: key facts

Administering agency

Iowa Workforce Development (IWD), Unemployment Insurance Division.

Online system

workforce.iowa.gov/unemployment

Phone

1-866-239-0843, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

After a death

Report the death so payments stop; any payment issued for weeks after the date of death must be returned to Iowa Workforce Development.

Reporting a death

Call IWD at 1-866-239-0843 (8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday). No dedicated online death-reporting form; phone is the required channel (Iowa Admin. Code r. 871-25.14(96)).

Documentation for final payment

Submit a written claim within 60 days of death. If Letters Testamentary or of Administration are issued within 30 days of death, present them to IWD; the final payment is then made to the estate. If no letters are obtained within 30 days, IWD pays the surviving spouse, or — if no spouse — the guardian of surviving unmarried minor children, or the person who paid last-illness or burial expenses in an amount at least equal to the benefit (Iowa Admin. Code r. 871-25.14(96)).

Who may claim

Priority order under Iowa Admin. Code r. 871-25.14(96): (1) executor or administrator with Letters Testamentary or of Administration applied for within 30 days of death; (2) surviving spouse if no letters obtained within 30 days; (3) guardian of surviving unmarried minor children; (4) person who paid last-illness or burial expenses equal to or exceeding the benefit amount.

Frequently asked questions