Hunter
04/09/20
State unemployment officials said that CARES Act benefits, including unemployment claims for the self-employed, should start being paid next week.
That news comes as Iowa Workforce Development announced that initial unemployment claims for the week ending April 4th reached 67, 334, and continuing weekly unemployment claims climbed to nearly 93,000.
The three highest industries with claims were Health Care and Social Assistance, Manufacturing, and Retail Trade.
Part of the CARES Act includes an additional $600 weekly benefit on top of regular unemployment benefits, and will be retroactive to March 29th. Self-employed individuals will be paid retroactive to February 2nd if there was a reduction in income or job loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Workforce Development acknowledged in their Thursday release that they have been overwhelmed with calls regarding benefits, but say they’ve been successful in answering most email questions within 24 hours. Employers or claimants with questions can submit them at uiclaimshelp@iwd.iowa.gov. Callers can anticipate long wait times as they process worker claims.
