In its most significant change in decades, Iowa’s process for claiming unemployment benefits is being modernized to blend functions and create a much better experience for the Iowans who use it. Before June 3, 2025, claimants seeking benefits were required to interact with multiple computer systems in different ways. These systems now have been combined to create a simpler, more efficient process – but the modifications also may have changed some of the ways that users may be used to doing things.
The following is to help you understand how to get started in the new system. The steps will be different depending on your role in the unemployment process.
List items for Instructions for Unemployment Claimants
Select the option below that applies to you. The steps for logging into iowaworks.gov will depend on whether or not you have used the website before. If you don't have an IowaWORKS account, you can register in just a few minutes at the same time that you need to file a claim.
You should be able to log into the system as usual using your iowaworks.gov login information and password. (Usually your email.)
Visit iowaworks.govand select "Sign In/Register" and then "individual" to log in.
At the log in screen, use the same credentials that you've used before to log into IowaWORKS.
Once logged in, you will see options for both career services and unemployment. Selecting the unemployment services option will take you to a hub where you will be able to handle all of the steps involving your claim, including filing new and weekly claims.
If your occupation makes you exempt from searching for work during seasonal layoffs, you could be “new” to the iowaworks.gov system even though you’ve filed previous unemployment claims with IWD. If this situation applies to you, take the following steps on June 3 or after:
Visit iowaworks.gov and select the link for “Sign In/Register" and then "Individual."
On the next screen, scroll down and select "Individual Registration" and then follow the steps.
Once you reach new registration, the system will ask you to enter your Social Security Number.
If IWD has a record of a previous claim filed by you, the system will recognize your SSN and ask you if you want to recover your old account.
During this process, it will show you the username we’ve created (usually your email address, if we have it) and force you to reset your password.
After completing this process, the previous account information will be fully transferred into the new system, and you will only use iowaworks.gov moving forward.
The steps you will need to follow when using the new system on iowaworks.gov for the first time will depend on two factors -- whether you have used the IowaWORKS website in the past and what your current employer account information is on the MyIowaUI system. Select the option that applies to you.
For every employer, the new system will attempt to match iowaworks.gov log-in information with the information used to access MyIowaUI.
If your primary unemployment user (on myiowaui.org) matches your primary recruiting/WOTC user (on iowaworks.gov), no further action is needed.
Log into your company’s account in iowaworks.gov using your username (usually your email) and password from MyIowaUI.
If your company’s MyIowaUI information does not match the log-in information we have for iowaworks.gov, the system will create a new UI Primary login name using the employer email address from MyIowaUI.
If there is no MyIowaUI email address, the system will create a Primary UI login name for you (using 00001+account number).
The recruiting/WOTC user’s access in iowaworks.gov then will remain as-is, and he or she will now become the primary user for all workforce services (in cases where the employer has multiple users outside of unemployment matters).
Once you input your login name, you will need to click the “Retrieve User Name or Password” link and then select the option to retrieve password. On the next screen, type in your username again and select “employer.”
After logging in, you will be taken to your Employer Dashboard. From here, you can manage job postings and recruiting tools, as well as respond to unemployment claims and appeals.
If you have an account for MyIowaUI but don’t have one for iowaworks.gov, log into the system using your email or assigned login name using the instructions below.
If you do not have an iowaworks.gov login but your business has dealt with IWD previously on unemployment matters, the system will use your MyIowaUI email address to create a UI Primary login name.
If there is no email address connected to your MyIowaUI account, we will create your new UI Primary login name using [00001+account number].
In either case, if the system assigns you a log-in name for any reason, your one-time, temporary password will be “Iowa123!”
Logging in now will take you to the Password Recovery page, where you will be asked to respond to the security question: "What is your mother's maiden name?”. The default answer for the first time you visit this page is “Iowa123” (no exclamation point).
Once you reach this point, you will be taken to the Reset Password page, where you will be required to pick a new password. When you save the new password, you will be taken to your Employer Dashboard.
If your company is new to both websites, then please visit MyIowaUI.org first and register your UI tax account and information.
Following this step, the UI tax bureau will provide you with instructions on how to log into iowaworks.gov and handle any notices of claims against your business.
After logging into iowaworks.gov, you will see a section for unemployment and clear instructions on how to handle actions on claims made against your business. (There may be a delay of several days before all functions are available in iowaworks.gov.)
Iowaworks.gov will allow non-claimants to register as either a direct representative of an employer or as a third-party agent.
For existing third-party agents who already represent employers in MyIowaUI, there will be a one-time conversion to match the accounts.
If you have an email address listed in MyIowaUI, the system will use it to create a new login name.
If there is no email address connected to your MyIowaUI account, the system will create a new login name for you using [00001+agent number]. (Leave out the “R”.)
In either case, if the system assigns you a log-in name for any reason, your one-time use, temporary password will be “Iowa123!”
Logging in now will take you to the Password Recovery page, where you will be asked to respond to the security question: "What is your mother's maiden name?”. The default answer for the first time you visit this page is “Iowa123” (no exclamation point).
Once you reach this point, you will be taken to the Reset Password page, where you will be required to pick a new password. When you save the new password, you will be taken to your dashboard.
If you have a MyIowaUI account, the system will understand your status. If you have only worked in iowaworks.gov before this (recruiting/WOTC), you will be asked to declare your role. Select “direct representative” if you will be handling your own company’s matters; select “third-party agent” if you are handling the affairs of one or more outside companies.
If you have questions about the new unemployment system or have a current unemployment need, visit the following resources.
List items for Unemployment Insurance Support
Unemployment insurance Customer Service is available between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, to help answer any questions about your claim.
Unemployment insurance Tax Customer Service is available between 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to help answer any questions about your employer account.
