The Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) agency has announced Iowans who file continuing unemployment claims should no longer do so by phone after October 1st. Instead, they should file online. IWD spokesperson Courtney Greene says filing online will ensure more timely and accurate payouts to individuals. There are benefits to employers and business as well.

“This change will also ensure the integrity of the unemployment insurance trust fund by reducing incidents of fraud, by eliminating improper payments, thus lowering employers’ taxes,” Greene said. Most Iowans who file continuing unemployment claims already do so online. “I think we’re currently at about 80-percent of people filing online…we really want to get that number into the 90s and even 100-percent if possible,” Greene said.

Despite the IWD’s notice of “online filing only,” people who do not have access to a computer will still be able file over the phone. “We will still have a handful of customer service representatives who will be able to assist people over the phone, but really the trend is to get more and more, as many Iowans as we can get filing their continued claims online,” Greene said. Iowans receiving unemployment benefits are receiving a letter about the change.

(Radio Iowa)