Starting April 1, the Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) is requiring new unemployment claims be verified through ID.me, the new identity verification method used in the state’s unemployment system.
The new identification method recently completed a successful testing period, with over 96% of 21,000 participating claimants able to complete verification on their first attempt and in less than five minutes on average. Since January, the use of ID.me has helped IWD identify and halt over 1,200 fraudulent attempts to obtain unemployment benefits, according to a news release.
“Our goal at Iowa Workforce Development is to help ease the path to reemployment for Iowans who have lost their job, and central to that goal is having a responsive and modernized system. ID.me has already enhanced our ability to verify claims safely and securely for the Iowans who need them, while also helping us remain a good steward of the UI trust fund,” said Beth Townsend, executive director of Iowa Workforce Development. “We look forward to expanding the use of ID.me to improve claims processing times and strengthen our ability to stop fraud attempts earlier in the process.”
When applying for unemployment benefits, claimants are asked to use ID.me for identity verification, simplifying the process and reducing the need for extra verification steps after filing a claim. IWD will still offer three verification options for ID.me to ensure accessibility and allow claimants to choose the method that suits them best.
Claimants can visit this link to learn about the three options for using ID.me – online self-service, video chat agent, and in-person verification. For claimants who do not have a personal mobile device, laptop or computer, in-person verification option for ID.me is available at all local IowaWORKS offices.
The ID.me secure digital identity network has over 120 million members, with partnerships in 30 states, 15 federal agencies, and over 600 name brand retailers. The company provides identity proofing, authentication and group affiliation verification for organizations across sectors.
