Iowa’s improving economy reduces weeks of extended unemployment benefits available to jobless workers
An improvement in Iowa’s economy — and its unemployment rate — means jobless workers will see a reduction in the number of weeks they may qualify for extended unemployment benefits, Iowa Workforce Development said today.
Iowa’s three-month average unemployment rate has fallen below the required 6 percent needed to qualify for the federal government’s “tier 3″ extended unemployment benefits, the state said. That reduces the extended weeks available to Iowans from 47 weeks to 34 weeks after Jan. 14.
Iowa’s unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in November.
“While Iowa is fortunate to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, it does effect the overall benefit eligibility for the state,” said Director Teresa Wahlert. “The change in Iowa’s eligibility will affect approximately 4,200 individual in the first quarter of 2012.”
The extended unemployment compensation program has three tiers, with each carrying varying weeks of maximum eligibility, the state agency said. Tier 1 carries a maximum of 20 weeks; tier 2, a maximum of 14 weeks, and tier 3 a maximum of 13 weeks.
Iowa also offers up to 26 weeks of eligibility for unemployed workers.
The week ending Jan. 14 will be the last week in which unemployed workers can establish tier 3 eligibility, the state said. After Jan. 14, about 300 individuals per week will exhaust tier 2 benefits and will not be eligible for tier 3.
Unemployed workers will receive written notification prior to the expiration of all available benefits. Jobless workers now receiving tier 3 benefits will not be affected by this change, the state said.
Written by: Donnelle Eller
Des Moines Register
January 4, 2012
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