In order to maintain eligibility for unemployment benefits, you are required complete four reemployment activities each week, unless this requirement is waived by the department. Reemployment activities may be waived if you are temporarily unemployed and expect to be recalled by your former employer within a reasonable period of time (generally 4 weeks or less) or are unable to work or if you are in school and approved for Department Approved Training (DAT). Your work search requirement is determined each time a claim is filed.
Detailed instructions for logging and certifying reemployment activities can be found on the Unemployment Insurance & IowaWORKS Reemployment Activities landing page.
In order to meet the work search requirements, you must make complete four reemployment activities, three of which must be job applications between Sunday and Saturday of the week you are claiming benefits.
The work search must be a reasonable and honest effort to find suitable work. Failure to do so may result in the denial of benefits. Participation in reemployment services activities may qualify as a work search.
You must be willing to accept a reasonable wage for the job for which you are applying. You may not apply for the same position with the same employer more than once every six weeks.
You must keep a log of all reemployment activities, including job applications, for a period of one year after you stop claiming benefits and be ready to provide a copy if requested by Iowa Workforce Development. Failure to comply may result in denial of benefits.
Members of a union hiring hall are required to be in good standing and must contact the union in accordance with hall rules.
Review these Frequently Asked Questions about Unemployment Insurance.