For Immediate Release:
May 21, 2008
Contacts:
Unemployment Statistics: Deb Ostrem (515) 281-8185
Unemployment Benefits: Joe Bervid (515) 281-8117
Workers’ Compensation: Chris Godfrey (515) 281-3504
General Information: Kerry Koonce (515) 281-9646
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Iowan’s Jobless and Injury Benefits Increase
DES MOINES – Maximum weekly benefits paid to jobless Iowans and to workers injured on the job will increase July 6, 2008, 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 $35,513.19 in 2007 from the 2006 rate of $34,094.47.
The new benefit payment schedules will apply to people who file new unemployment insurance claims after July 6, 2008 and to workers who are injured on or after July 1, 2008.
Under Iowa law, the number if 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 7-6-2008 | Minimum Weekly Benefit Amount Effective 7-6-2008 |
Current Maximum Weekly Benefit Effective 7-1-2007 |
| 0 | 53 | $ 361.00 | $ 53.00 | $ 347.00 |
| 1 | 55 | $ 375.00 | $ 56.00 | $ 360.00 |
| 2 | 57 | $ 389.00 | $ 59.00 | $ 373.00 |
| 3 | 60 | $ 409.00 | $ 62.00 | $ 393.00 |
| 4 or more | 65 | $ 443.00 | $ 65.00 | $ 426.00 |
Iowa Workforce Development officials noted that about half of those eligible for unemployment insurance benefits have enough earnings to qualify for the maximum benefit.
Out of an estimated total labor force of 1,661,000, a total of 1,467,384 workers were covered by the Iowa unemployment insurance program in 2007.
Beginning July 1, the workers’ compensation maximum weekly benefit for temporary total disability, healing period, permanent total disability and death will rise to $1,366. For permanent partial disability, the weekly maximum will be $1,257.
IWD’s core services include job placement services for individuals; worker recruitment assistance to employers; training services to low-income and disadvantaged Iowans; worker protection and safety programs (inspections, consultation and education services); unemployment insurance programs and compensation benefits/entitlement; and technical assistance for employers. Services, in most instances, are provided at no charge or for a nominal charge to the customer.
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