The new unemployment system in IowaWORKS provides a host of tools that help employers better access unemployment insurance information. The website also includes a connection point to SIDES (State Information Data Exchange System), a web-based system that allows employers and state agencies to electronic information to each other regarding unemployment insurance claims.
You can now connect with the SIDES system by logging into your unemployment insurance account on iowaworks.gov and following the steps below.
SIDES E-Response is designed for employers and Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) who have a lower volume of unemployment insurance claims. This option does not require any special programming or software.
SIDES Web Service is designed for employers and TPAs with a high volume of unemployment insurance claims or those who operate in multiple states. This option requires the employer or TPA to do programming.
E-Response is best for most employers. You simply login to the SIDES website – no IT intervention is required.
Web Services is generally used by Third Party Administrators (TPA) processing a large volume of employers.
If you are not sure which is best for your company, you can begin with E-Response & decide after using it if you would prefer to do the additional IT work necessary to switch to Web Services.
Web Services requires IT product building to connect your company infrastructure.
If you call, a Customer Service Representative (CSR) will ask for the following information:
Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN): 9-digit Federal Account number.
State Employer Identification Number (SEIN): Iowa employer account number - a 6-digit number with a 3-digit location code.
Contact E-mail address(s): E-mail address where IWD will send notification that Notice of Claim records have been posted to your account.
The CSR will tell you that an e-mail will be sent with a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Once you receive that e-mail and PIN, the account is active and set up.
Federal Employer Identification Number (9-digit Federal Account number)
State Employer Identification Number (Iowa employer account number - a 6-digit number with a 3-digit location code)
Contact E-mail address (E-mail address where IWD will send notification that Notice of Claim records have been posted to your account.)
Recommendation: If possible, use a group or generic e-mail such as ‘groupaddress@companyname.org’ that can reach multiple staff rather than listing the individual e-mail addresses for each staff member.
IWD will set up your account in SIDES.
IWD will e-mail you a PIN and your SEIN.
When you receive the PIN through e-mail, your account has been set up and activated.
An e-mail with login instructions will be sent to the Unemployment Insurance Primary Contact’s email address each day that an item is posted to your account.
There should be a link in the e-mail notification you received.
You will not be able to login if there are no records posted to your account. Any items that have previously been posted will drop off after 35 days.
If an e-mail notification with login instructions has been received but you’re still receiving an error, review the following:
Double check your FEIN, SEIN & PIN.
Do not include the dash in your FEIN.
The format for SEIN is six digits with three-digit location code at the end.
PIN is case sensitive.
If typing errors mean you make three unsuccessful attempts to login, your account will be locked out for one full hour after the last attempt. (This is true even if you enter the information correctly on a fourth attempt.) If you have entered the information correctly after the one-hour wait and are still unable to login, please send an e-mail to IWD-SIDESINFO@iwd.iowa.gov.
Only one PIN can be assigned for each SEIN/ FEIN. Multiple users may log in using the same credentials; however, only one person can open a particular claim at a time.
If you decide at any time you'd like to discontinue your participation in E-Response & return to paper notice of claims, you must submit a request by an authorized representative of the company to IWD-SIDESINFO@iwd.iowa.gov. Any requests of this nature will be verified before deactivating E-Response.
Please send an e-mail to IWD-SIDESINFO@iwd.iowa.gov. In your e-mail, include as much information about the problem as possible.
For example, “I am logged into E-Response, but I am getting error messages when I try to submit my response.”
