Colorado Unemployment Weekly Claims

Colorado Unemployment Weekly Claims

If you are unemployed in Colorado through no fault of your own, you can collect unemployment insurance benefits for up to 26 weeks. There are some eligibility requirements you must meet in order to collect UI benefits, including making at least $2,500 in your base period prior to filing for unemployment benefits. You must also be able and willing to work. Another ongoing requirement for collecting Colorado unemployment insurance is that you file a weekly claim. Without filing that weekly claim on time, your benefits will either be denied or delayed.

What is a weekly claim?

Part of the ongoing requirements to qualify for Colorado unemployment benefits is to file a weekly claim. This involves making a request either on the phone or on the online system, starting no earlier than two Sundays from the date when you filed your initial claim. You will be asked to answer a few questions about whether or not you worked, and if you did, how much you earned in wages and tips, as this may change the benefit amount you receive.

You will also be asked to submit details about your ongoing job search. The work search is a requirement for collecting unemployment insurance in the state of Colorado. Although the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment does not have specific job search requirements, as some places around the United States do, you must indicate that you are making an honest attempt to find new employment security by conducting 5 such activities each week.

Applying for a job, going to an interview, and participating in workforce activity such as a job fair or resume seminar are all considered valid forms of conducting a work search. Within four weeks of your initial application, you must register at a local Workforce Center in person, or online at the ConnectingColorado website.

How to file a weekly claim in Colorado

Once you have submitted your Colorado unemployment application, you will need to file a weekly claim to collect your benefits. The easiest way to file your claim, if you have internet access, is to use the MyUI+ system. Alternatively, if you want to file your weekly claim on the phone you can call 303-813-2800 if you live in the Denver metro area, or 1-888-550-2800 in the rest of the state.

Once you have logged on to the MyUI+ portal, there is a navigation menu on the left side of the page, where you can click on Request Benefit Payment. Once you have opened that window, you can select the option to Start Weekly Certification for the week you are requesting benefits.

From that screen, you will be taken through a series of questions about any hours worked, earnings if any during that time, and whether or not you conducted job search activities. Note that self-employment is considered work. Answer all the questions honestly so that no disputes or accusations of unemployment fraud can impact your benefits or force the state of Colorado to request repayment of an overpayment.

Although the MyUI+ system is a more streamlined iteration of previous systems, there is currently no phone app in Colorado for requesting payment, so you will need to access it through a web browser.

Collecting Payment

The labor department provides you with two different ways to collect Colorado unemployment payments. When you file your Colorado unemployment weekly claim and request payment over the online system, you can choose to receive your unemployment compensation as a direct deposit right into your checking account with your bank or credit union.

Or, you can have your unemployment insurance benefit sent to a prepaid debit card.

If you call the toll free unemployment office filing system, the default method is having your possible benefits sent to the debit card. If you are having issues with the card (such as a lost or stolen card, or you forgot the PIN number), you will need to contact the U.S. Bancorp customer service number on the card, since they are the party that is actually responsible for managing the card – not the unemployment insurance program.

There is no option to collect your benefits in the form of a paper check.

What if I’ve exhausted my benefits?

An unemployed worker can collect up to 26 weeks of traditional unemployment benefits after they file their unemployment claim. After that point, they may be able to collect 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits from the labor department, but only if the state’s unemployment rate rises above 5%. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which is no longer available, was another program that extended benefits during the COVID pandemic. Even regular unemployment during the pandemic was extended and both programs were implemented by Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).

Incidentally, this inability to extend unemployment benefits is the reason behind the work search activity requirement. Colorado unemployment work search requirements are not just there to make sure a laid off worker stays busy. Rather, they are there to help make sure you won’t need to think about filing a new claim after 26 weeks. Applying for 5 jobs a week over that period would result in about 130 opportunities to find a new employer.

Colorado law also requires claimants to participate in employment services which can assist in bridging any gaps between a jobless worker and their employability through services like career coaching, resume building, and vocational training.

What if I don’t agree with the benefit amount?

Before you file for benefits, you should use the Colorado unemployment calculator to see the weekly benefit amount you are entitled to. Once you apply for benefits, you will get a Monetary Determination in the mail that states how much your weekly benefit amount will be.

If this amount differs from what the calculator tells you, you should file an appeal to secure your full amount. However, while waiting for that appeal to work its way through the process, you should continue to file your weekly claim. If your appeal has an outcome in your favor, you can be awarded back benefits.

  1. Hi Michelle,
    Were you discharged from a job? Yes
    Were you laid off due to lack of work?Yes
    Are they correct? While I still working part time for another company not for companies that I got laid off

    • Hi, Lyly – it’s difficult to say for sure without fully understanding your situation. You may want to talk with someone with the Colorado unemployment office so you can discuss the specifics of your claim. This site is designed to provide information about the general unemployment insurance process.

  2. Hi Michelle,
    So I answer No for were you discharged from a job?
    And YES for were you laid off due to lack of work?
    I’m working part time for different company not working for companies that laid me off
    Thanks

    • Yes, that sounds correct, but it’s hard to say for sure without understanding the specifics of your situation. You’ll also need to report any wages you earned from the company you’re working for now. You may want to talk with someone with the Colorado unemployment office so you can discuss the specifics of your claim. This site is designed to provide information about the general unemployment insurance process.

  3. Hi Micheal
    How do I answer question during the last week we’re you discharged from a job?
    During last week were you laid off due to lack of work?
    I’m still working part time 9 hrs a week
    Thanks

    • Hi, Linda – you should be able to answer that your hours were reduced, presumably because of lack of work. If there was another reason for your hours being reduced, you should specify that.

  4. Hi Michael,
    When should I file my weekly certifications for unemployment in colorado after I file a claim for 10 days, I can’t assess to the request benefit payment or start weekly certification on Myui+ online, so what should I do ? Thanks

    • Hi, Linda – are you having technical trouble with the MyUI+ system? If so, you can reach out to the customer support center at 303-318-9000 or toll-free at 1-800-388-5515. Otherwise, you should begin filing your weekly claims as soon as possible. You can request payment as early as the Sunday following the week that ended, and you have 14 days to request that week. If you do not request payment within those 14 days, your claim will close and you will have to reopen it.

  5. Help when filling out Weekly Certifications I put the name of the Job title instead of the name of the company. Thanks

    • Hi, Katy – if you need to change something in your weekly claim, you should be able to do so through your MyUI+ account. If that doesn’t work for you, you also can try calling 303-813-2800 or 1-888-550-2800. Ultimately, you’ll need to connect with someone directly with the Colorado unemployment office – this site is intended to address general questions about the unemployment claim process and cannot address specific questions about your claim.

  6. What are the statuses of a certification. I recently moved from pending (after about 4 weeks) to processed. Yet I have received no payment. Assuming processed is a good thing as far as, my certifications are valid and will be paid, how long does it take to receive the payment usually via direct deposit?

    • Hi, Matt – according to the state of Colorado, it should only take two to three days to receive your first payment as long as you’ve been submitting your weekly claims. If you’ve been submitting those claims and still haven’t received a payment, you should definitely reach out directly to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to find out more.

  7. Similar to Charles, I filed at the end of April and still nothing. I spoke with a representative on the 800 number who mentioned that my claim had been placed on a program integrity hold due to possible fraudulent activity. Which after calling the 303 number, 1 – 2 x per week for the past 4 weeks, I had been told everything was fine and the process just slow. The agents on the 303 # did absolutely nothing other than delay the process even further. And, why I didn’t receive any sort of detailed notice of why things were delayed is still a clue to me. I have submitted all the items necessary for verification, but in the interim, I’m still close to 8 weeks without any sort of compensation. Thankfully, I have savings and number of interviews scheduled, but this process has been a nightmare.

  8. Hi, I’ve been patiently waiting since May 9,2023 to get my benefits and I’ve got nothing but static. I’ve been locked out of my account multiple times and been on hold longer then I would like to omit. My phone is about to get cut off and I’m driving with no insurance. I have little food left cause I was expecting a month but this is ridicules’. People can’t live with out getting paid for six weeks. Please help me, I don’t think I want to do this much longer, the depression of this situation is overwhelming. I’m not ok and I need, I repeat I need help, would you please help me. I’m begging because I can not keep on living this way, I did everything correct and I don’t feel I should live this way.

    • Hi, Charles – have you received a determination about your claim? And are you locked out of your account right now? You should be able to call this number to get help with your online account: 303-536-5615. Or one of these numbers may work for you: 303-813-2800 (Denver-metro area), 1-888-550-2800 (outside Denver-metro area). The state of Colorado says it could take as long as six weeks to receive a decision about your claim. In the meantime, you also might consider connecting with someone at one of Colorado’s Workforce centers; they also can help you with your job search. You can find your workforce center at http://www.coloradoui.gov/workforce. Your local workforce center can provide you with lots of resources for finding a new job and may be able to help you with other assistance programs if you need them. Colorado’s Human Services division also runs several assistance programs that may prove helpful, which are outlined here: https://cdhs.colorado.gov/benefits-assistance/cash-assistance. Most importantly, don’t stop trying to reach someone with the Colorado Unemployment Office directly – they can access information about your specific claim, but this site is set up to answer general questions about the unemployment process.

  9. I have filed my claim but cannot navigate to the page to request a payment for each week. Online it says there is a button in the upper left navigation bar labeled “Request a Payment” on MyIU+ but I cannot find it. I even tried searching throughout the website to try and find it if there wasn’t a button for it outright, but I haven’t been able to find it. Am I going to have to call the number every week?

    • Hi, Elizabeth – if you’re having trouble navigating the Colorado UI benefits portal, it looks like you can call and get help: 303-536-5615 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Someone should be able to walk you through the navigation and get you to the button functionality you need to request your weekly payment. Websites often change quickly, so it’s possible the navigation has changed, while the documentation hasn’t kept up.

  10. I have a claim but can’t get past a “glitch” in the website to file. Any way to fix this issue?

  11. my claim status is expired_active and I have received a letter stating that I can receive payments through Sept 2021. I also recently updated my identity online.

    However when I log in, I can’t find my weekly certifications. Last week there were three from March available: I filled out one and received payment today. However the others have disappeared.
    Why can’t I find my weekly Certifications? Help is much appreciated!

  12. Please help i am confused about the weekly request for benefit question..
    “were you laid off this week due to lack of work?”
    I was laid off last April due to lack of work..yes
    I was not laid this week due to lack of work. No
    I have been continually laid off up until and through to this week. Yes
    WHAT ARE THEY ASKING HERE? cause i think i just screwed up my request by saying NO.

  13. Hi, I just got my first payment today. It included $0 for the waiting week and one week’s worth of unemployment. Will I eventually be paid the waiting week?

  14. 42 continuous years employed and I have never filed for unemployment. I expect to get laid off on April 1, 2019. How soon after I file a claim will I start receiving benefits? Thank you.

    • Daniel,

      You can apply for UI benefits immediately after your last working day. Generally, it takes 7-10 business days for the processing (waiting week).

      Best wishes!

  15. I an trying to report hours worked and cannot open pdf ,are we supposed to mail it in or what I am confused

    • Steve,

      I am guessing faxing it should be enough unless you’ve been asked to share it through other channels as well. Please call the Claims Center for clarification.

  16. I lost the pin # letter and am trying to get ahold of someone with Colorado’s unemployment office. I have until Saturday and then my claim will be closed. I am in desperate need to speak to someone and it has been impossible via the cub line. I have tried all hours of the day for more than a week. Please help!

    • I can understand the urgency. The other options you can explore is to visit an Unemployment Office in the vicinity or try to see if have an option on the official website to reset or request a PIN.

  17. I am receiving unemployment but I was able to work few hours at my job last week. I am very confused on how to report these wages, I found the log for wages, but I don’t know if I need to mail it somewhere or if there is somewhere to report it online. I cannot get through to the UI office in Denver to ask questions so I hope someone can help explain what to do.

    • Unfortunately, we do not have any information in this regard. Please keep trying the phone numbers during off peak hours.

      You can also scout for relevant information on the official website or look for more phone numbers there.

  18. Does unemployment cover a job that doesn’t make enough to pay rent… so have to quit work to find one that I can stop being homeless?

  19. I was checking to see why my unemployment check has not come to me for the week of 02/02/2014. It is my understanding I am to recieve $529.00 every week. Can someone help me in getting this resolved so I can keep up with my bills.

    Regards,
    Glenn Neumeier

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