Jobless benefits ceiling to be raised next week

Beginning next month, newly unemployed Iowans and those recently injured on the job will qualify for an increase in their maximum weekly benefits.

The added benefit payment will apply only to individuals who file new unemployment insurance claims for the week beginning July 5, and to workers injured on or after July 1. Iowans already receiving benefits from state or federal unemployment programs will continue to receive the same weekly benefit amount.

An increase in the amount of wages that are covered by unemployment insurance is responsible for the increase in maximum weekly benefit. The average annual wage for insured Iowa workers increased to $48,455.86 in 2019, up from $47,290.57 in 2018.

Iowa Workforce Development officials say that about half of those eligible for unemployment insurance benefits have enough earnings to qualify for the maximum benefit.

Beginning July 1, the workers’ compensation maximum weekly benefit for temporary total disability, healing period, permanent total disability and death will rise to $1,864. For permanent partial disability, the weekly maximum will be $1,715.

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.

Once the new maximum benefit kicks in, Iowans with no dependents could see their weekly unemployment benefit increase from $481 to $493. Unemployed individuals with two dependents could see their benefits increase from $518 to $531.