BOISE — Unemployment insurance claimants who need the federal 1099-G tax information forms to complete their 2012 tax returns can download the forms by accessing the Idaho Department of Labor’s website.

    The forms will also be mailed to claimants by Jan. 31. The forms will be sent to the 2012 addresses on file for those who received unemployment insurance benefits last year, a total of nearly 80,000 Idahoans.

    The Idaho Department of Labor processed $298.8 million in state and federal unemployment benefits during 2012. That amount is less than half the totals processed at the height of the recession in 2009 and 2010, according to a news release.

    Telephone calls to the department have increased since the start of the year and are creating significant delays for customers wishing to speak with a claims specialist.

    Thus, customers and claimants are asked to be patient in attempting to reach the department and to use the labor department’s website at, if possible, as an alternative to the telephone.

    The 1099-G tax information forms can be downloaded at www.labor.idaho.gov/iw.