Iowa Unemployment Calculator 2026
Iowa pays $96–$790 per week for up to 16 weeks in 2026. Your weekly benefit amount is 1/23 of your highest-earning base-period quarter. Enter your quarterly wages below to estimate it — the math runs entirely in your browser, from figures verified against Iowa Workforce Development (IWD).
Works offline — your inputs never leave this device. How that works
Enter your gross wages for each quarter of the base period — roughly the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. Your state's exact window is shown with the result.
Base period: First 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters (an alternate base period is available if you don’t qualify with the standard one).
File your claim with Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) — only the agency determines your actual benefit.
Verified 2026-07-31 against Iowa Workforce Development Unemployment Insurance Claimant Handbook 2026-2027 (effective 2026-07-05)
Estimate only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Only Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) can determine your actual amounts.
Official source: Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) — file a claim ↗
Working part-time? Partial benefits
Iowa disregards part of what you earn in a week before reducing your benefit. Estimate what a part-time week leaves you with:
- Disregard: 0.25 × WBA $400.00 = $100.00
- Countable earnings: $150.00 − $100.00 = $50.00
- Payable: WBA $400.00 − $50.00 = $350.00
How dependants change the Iowa benefit
Up to 4 dependents (anyone claimed on your previous year's income tax return; spouse qualifies if they earned $120 or less the week before the claim's effective date) change the divisor and caps rather than adding a flat allowance. Effective 7/5/2026 (IWD announcement): maximum WBA $644 (0 deps) / $668 (1) / $692 (2) / $729 (3) / $790 (4+), minimums $96 / $100 / $105 / $110 / $116; caps run 53%-65% of the statewide average weekly wage. Dependents can only be added within 10 days of filing the initial claim.
How long benefits can last
Up to 16 weeks; total benefits are Handbook: 'The maximum benefit amount (MBA) is 16 times your weekly benefit amount (WBA) or one-third of your total base period wages, whichever is less. If your last employer permanently closed, your MBA may increase to 26 times the WBA or half your total base period wages, whichever is less.'
Who qualifies for benefits in Iowa
Handbook: wages from covered employers in at least two quarters of the base period; total base-period wages at least 1.25 times the highest quarter; effective 7/5/26, at least $2,210 in one quarter and at least $1,110 in a different quarter.
Meeting the wage test is not the same as being approved: Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) also rules on the reason for the separation and on your availability for work each week. File with Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) ↗
Base period in Iowa
First 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters. An alternate base period is available if you don’t qualify with the standard window. Handbook: an Alternate Base Period may be requested if you do not qualify monetarily using the regular base period (contact IWD).
See which quarters count for your filing date →Severance and your claim
Handbook, income 100% deductible dollar-for-dollar from the benefit payment: '1. Vacation pay and paid time off 2. Severance pay 3. Pension - Only if the employer contributed 100%...'. Agency example: WBA $400, $370 vacation payout - $30 paid for the week.
Source: Iowa Workforce Development Unemployment Insurance Claimant Handbook 2026-2027 (verified 2026-07-31).
Iowa unemployment: frequently asked questions
Iowa pays between $96 and $644 per week in 2026 (up to $790 with a dependents allowance). Your amount is 1/23 of your highest-earning base-period quarter, and only Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) can determine it officially. These figures were verified against the agency's own publication on 2026-07-31.
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