Vows claims will get paid
COVID-19 is not only challenging the health of people across the country and the globe, but it’s also challenging economies as mitigation efforts stall and sometimes halt business.
Gov Kim Reynolds at her daily coronavirus press briefing Thursday asked Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) director Beth Townsend to share unemployment numbers for the state.
Townsend reported that 67,187 initial claims filed in Iowa between March 29 and April 4, and 92,952 continuing claims were filed by persons who were filing for a second week or longer. A total of $27,565,232 was paid in unemployment insurance benefits last week. Most claims are paid in 7-10 days from their initial filing, Townsend said.
The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act went into effect March 29. Townsend noted the act provides unemployment benefits for self-employed workers including independent contractors, freelancers, gig economy workers, non-profit employees as well as self-employed persons. Information about those job classes and the documents needed to establish income are available on the IWD website, she said.
The CARES Act also provides for an additional $600 per week in unemployment benefits. The additional benefit started March 29 and will end July 31. Townsend said she anticipates those payments will start being made next week. A notice will be posted to the IWD website when that occurs.
Townsend also reminded Iowans that voluntarily quitting a job in order to get benefits is a disqualification. “You must be either laid off, have a temporary lay-off, or have reduced hours to qualify for unemployment benefits,” she said.
“I want to remind you that you cannot voluntarily quit your job in an effort to obtain the weekly benefit or unemployment benefits,” Townsend said.
Townsend asked Iowans to be patient with IWD staff. The department is receiving tens of thousands of calls a day, she said. Callers should wait for the phone to stop ringing, assume there will then be silence on the line, and wait for someone to answer. Do not disconnect during that silent time.
“As the governor says all the time, she knows Iowans are going to get through this together,” Townsend said. “I would ask that all Iowans provide the hardworking, dedicated and committed staff at IWD the same patience and grace they would their friends and neighbors. We may not get to you as quickly as we normally would, but we will get to you, and more important, we will get your claims paid.”
