Maximum Iowa jobless, injury benefits rising next month

The maximum weekly benefit paid to unemployed Iowans and to workers injured on the job will increase July 5.

Iowa Workforce Development on Thursday said the rise in benefits was triggered by an increase in wages covered by unemployment insurance. The average annual wage for insured Iowa workers increased to $42,327.64 in 2014.

The maximum weekly benefit will rise to $431 from the current $416 per week for those who have no dependents. For those with four or more dependents, the maximum weekly unemployment benefit will increase to $529 from the current $511.

The new benefit payment will apply to Iowans who file new unemployment insurance claims on or after July 5 and to workers who are injured on or after July 5.

Iowa Workforce, in a news release, said about half of those eligible for unemployment insurance benefits have enough earnings to qualify for the maximum benefit.

Beginning July 1, the workers' compensation maximum weekly benefit for temporary total disability, healing period, permanent total disability and death will rise to $1,628. For permanent partial disability, the weekly maximum will be $1,498.