Starting this week, there is an increase to the maximum weekly benefits for unemployed Iowans and those injured on the job. Iowa Workforce Development announced the new maximum benefits. The new benefits apply to people who file new unemployment insurance claims on or after July 7th and to workers injured on or after July 1st. An increase in wages covered by unemployment insurance triggered the rise in benefits. The average annual wage for insured Iowa workers increased to $47,290.57 in 2018, up from $45,877.31 in 2017. The new workers’ compensation maximum weekly benefit for temporary total disability, healing period, permanent total disability and death will rise to $1,819. For permanent partial disability, the weekly maximum will be $1,673. Currently for a worker without any dependents the weekly maximum is $467, and that is increasing $14 to $481 per week.