Iowa unemployment is a program that is regulated both by the state of Iowa and by the federal government.

The basic Iowa unemployment eligibility requirements are:

1. You are totally unemployed, or have had your hours reduced.
2. You lost your job involuntarily through no fault of your own.
3. You have worked in Iowa and earned a minimum amount of wages in work covered by unemployment tax during the past 18 months.
4. You are physically and mentally able to work
5. You are available for work.
6. You are registered for work at your local Iowa Workforce Development Center.
7. You are actively seeking work.

The requirements for filing are:

1. Your Social Security number
2. The name, payroll address, telephone number, and dates employed of your most recent employer;
3. Your alien Registration number, if you are not a U.S. citizen.
4. If you served on active duty in any branch of the U.S. military during the past 18 months, a DD214.
5. If you were a federal employeein the past 18 months, a Standard Form 8, if one was provided to you.
6. Names of any dependents
7. Weekly gross wages earned by your spouse

There are three ways you can apply for unemployment in Iowa.

• File an Iowa unemployment benefit claim online. You’ll need to set up an Iowa Workforce Development user account in order to file online.
• File an Iowa unemployment benefit claim in person at an Iowa Workforce Development Center.
• File an Iowa unemployment benefit claim through your employer, if your employer participates in the Iowa program that permits employers to file the initial claim for recently separated employees.