You are required to verify your identity using ID.me when you file a claim for unemployment insurance. This process helps Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) confirm that you are who you say you are. It protects against identity theft and fraud.
You must verify your identity before you can receive unemployment insurance benefits. You will be asked to verify your identity when you submit your initial claim and each time you submit a weekly claim on iowaworks.gov. If you do not verify your identity, you will not receive payments.
Using ID.me to Verify Your Identity
ID.me is a secure, digital network that simplifies the process for verifying your identity online. Anyone filing for unemployment benefits in Iowa must use ID.me to verify their identity.
Thousands of Iowans have already used ID.me successfully and, on average, are completing their verification in less than five minutes.
Learn how to verify your identity using ID.me by watching this video.
What You Need to Know
Your identity must be confirmed, or your unemployment benefits may be delayed and your claim canceled. The sections below including key resources and information on the identity verification process.
To verify your identity, you’ll need at least one of the following documents:
Your driver’s license (or learner's permit) from a U.S. state
Any other state- or government-issued photo ID
Your U.S. passport or passport card
Your HSPD 12 PV card (used by federal contractors)
Your U.S. Permanent resident card (I-551)
Your USCIS-issued Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
Your Veteran’s health ID card
Your Transportation Security Administration (TSA) ID Card
Your DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI)
Your Canadian driver’s license
Your Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)
Your National ID card (if you live outside of the U.S.)
When you file your initial claim on iowaworks.gov, the application process will direct you to the ID.me website.
At this step, you must create an ID.me account or log into your existing account to get verified.
If you’re logging into an existing ID.me account, you must do so while going through the IowaWORKS application process to correctly verify your identity.
You have three ways to verify your identity:
Online self-service: You will need a smartphone or a computer with a camera to upload your documents. If you can’t upload your documents, you can have a video call with an agent to finish your verification.
Live video chat: You upload your photo ID and have a short call with an ID.me agent. The agent will confirm your identity by comparing you to your photo ID.
After you’ve submitted your documents, ID.me will direct you back to the IowaWORKS portal to finish your claim.
You must also log into ID.me each week when you file your weekly claim on iowaworks.gov. However, you do not need to submit any documents (you simply need to just login to your ID.me account).
Starting June 3, 2025, all unemployment claims will be completed on iowaworks.gov. All Iowans currently receiving unemployment benefits already use ID.me, and will continue to do so while filing claims in IowaWORKS.
At some point after launch, the site will begin requiring all users -- including those who are just searching for jobs -- to verify their identity through ID.me to ensure that personal information is protected. (IWD will announce more details in the future.)
