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A new unemployment system is coming soon! Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) is modernizing its system to make applying for unemployment benefits easier, faster, and more secure.
For the first time, Iowans will complete the unemployment process from one central location, iowaworks.gov. This system change will take place on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
This update also impacts employers. While businesses will still manage their UI tax accounts in MyIowaUI, iowaworks.gov will become the central system for handling the claims themselves. IWD is providing several resources to help employers prepare for the new system. You can find the details below.
Back to topWhat's Changing?
Iowans currently use multiple websites (and separate accounts) to complete the steps required by their unemployment claims. Going forward, all claim-filing steps now will take place on iowaworks.gov, simplifying this process. Employers will also have more tools to manage the unemployment insurance claims for their business.
Back to topWhat This Means for Employers
- Currently, iowaworks.gov serves as a valuable workforce tool for employers to post jobs and recruit workers. The June 3 update will add unemployment functionality to the website, so that activities and decisions involving unemployment claims (and appeals) related your business now will take place on this site.
- Employers will still use the MyIowaUI system (as they do today) to handle all related unemployment tax functions, such as paying UI taxes, business registration, management of UI tax account.
Comparison: Unemployment Systems Used by Employers
Both IowaWORKS (for claims functions) and MyIowaUI (for tax functions) are important tools that will help employers navigate unemployment.
| IowaWORKS | MyIowaUI |
|---|---|
| Used For: Unemployment Claims Functions | Used for: Unemployment Tax Functions |
| Examples: Notice of Claim filed against Employer, Appeals, Refusal to Work Notices, Quarterly Charge Statements | Examples: Paying UI taxes, Business Registration, Management of UI Tax Account |
Important Dates
Back to topHow Do Employers Prepare for the New System?
- After the update at iowaworks.gov in June, employers will be able to handle workforce actions involving both unemployment claims and their job posting/recruiting needs from one central system. To help with the system change, information from current employer accounts with IWD is being brought into iowaworks.gov.
- By May 27 (the start of the systems change), please make sure your MyIowaUI account is up to date and has a valid email address.
| Status | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| My business is already registered in iowaworks.gov | Employer accounts already in IowaWORKS will automatically have unemployment functions added in the June 3rd update. Employers may need to review user access to make sure all who need it have access to the new functions. Should your business wish to have separate users for handling unemployment functions and job/recruitment functions in IowaWORKS, the system will accommodate you. Account information from MyIowaUI will also carry over into the new system, and instructions will be available soon. |
| My business is not yet registered in iowaworks.gov | IWD encourages you to become registered as an employer in IowaWORKS today to take advantage of the current business features and get prepared for the June update. To help with the unemployment update, UI account information from MyIowaUI will be automatically transferred into the IowaWORKS system to help employers more easily set up an account. Instructions on accounts will be available soon. |
| I'm an individual. | Visit this page: Preparing for UI Modernization (For Individuals) |
Additional Resources to Help You Prepare for the New System:
- Video resources, along with detailed instructions on how to prepare for the new system, will be available soon. This information will also be distributed to IWD's list of current employers.
- Stay turned to this webpage for more information.