Iowa Workforce Development Communications
For Immediate Release
Date: June 25, 2015
Contact: Ed Wallace
Telephone: 515-281-5082
515-954-0907
Email: edward.wallace@iwd.iowa.gov
Iowan's Jobless and Injury Benefits Increase
DES MOINES, IA – Maximum weekly benefits paid to jobless Iowans and to workers injured on the job will increase July 5, 2015 announced Iowa Workforce Development.
The rise in benefits was triggered by an increase in wages covered by unemployment insurance. The average annual wage for insured Iowa workers increased to $42,327.64 in 2014, up from $40,883.90 the previous year.
The new benefit payment schedules will apply to people who file new unemployment insurance claims on or after July 5, 2015 and to workers who are injured on or after July 5, 2015.
Under Iowa law, the number of people covered by unemployment insurance and their gross wages are primary elements of a formula Iowa Workforce Development uses each year to compute maximum and minimum benefit amounts paid to jobless workers. The new rates are:
|
Number of Dependents |
Maximum Percentage of Statewide Average Weekly Wage |
Maximum Weekly Benefit Amount Effective 07-05-2015 |
Minimum Weekly Benefit Amount Effective 07-05-2015 |
Current Maximum Weekly Benefit Effective 07-06-2014 |
|
0 |
53 |
$431.00 |
$ 64.00 |
$ 416.00 |
|
1 |
55 |
$ 447.00 |
$ 67.00 |
$ 432.00 |
|
2 |
57 |
$ 463.00 |
$ 70.00 |
$ 448.00 |
|
3 |
60 |
$ 488.00 |
$ 74.00 |
$ 471.00 |
|
4 or more |
65 |
$ 529.00 |
$ 77.00 |
$ 511.00 |
Iowa Workforce Development officials noted that about half of those eligible for unemployment insurance benefits have enough earnings to qualify for the maximum benefit. The 2016 taxable wage base will be $28,300.
Beginning July 1, the workers’ compensation maximum weekly benefit for temporary total disability, healing period, permanent total disability and death will rise to $1,628. For permanent partial disability, the weekly maximum will be $1,498.