For Immediate Release: March 27, 2009
Contact: Kerry Koonce: (515) 281-9646
Printer Friendly PDF VersionIWD Announces Additional Emergency Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Des Moines – Director Elisabeth Buck announced today that notices will be mailed from Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) to approximately 9,000 Iowans who may be eligible for the additional emergency unemployment insurance benefits of up to 13 weeks, if their previous benefits are currently exhausted. Individuals who are still receiving their unemployment benefits will continue with their weekly reporting to receive the extension. Once an individual received their notice next week of potential eligibility, the notice should be taken to one of Iowa Workforce Development’s 55 field offices to reactivate an unemployment claim. Or a new claim can be filed online at www.iowaworkforce.org.
“As the national economy continues to affect Iowa, these additional benefits provide an economic safety net for Iowans in need,” stated Iowa Workforce Development Director, Elisabeth Buck. “Eligible Iowans may begin receiving benefits within the next two weeks.”
Iowa Workforce Development has developed a comprehensive program to assist unemployed workers. The program includes a wide variety of assistance designed to get Iowans back to work. This comprehensive services package includes retraining assistance, help with identifying new employment opportunities, resume writing and interview skills, job placement assistance, and connections to additional services such as health insurance for children and other human services needs.
The Extended Compensation Act of 2008 provided the framework for the additional level of emergency unemployment benefits. The program is designed to lessen the effects of unemployment during difficult economic times. This program provides a maximum of an additional thirteen weeks of extended unemployment benefits to eligible Iowans who have exhausted their regular benefits and the previous 20 weeks of extended benefits. Emergency benefits are paid by the federal government and do not effect Iowa’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund solvency.
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