How to File for Colorado Unemployment

In this article we will explain about unemployment benefits in Colorado and how you can apply for those benefits.

Disclaimer: This article is in no way intended to be legal advice. If you have any questions about unemployment benefits or your eligibility, contact your union representative or the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

When you start, the first thing you need to do is go to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment website:

http://coloradoui.gov/

File for Colorado Unemployment – New Claimant

On the web you go down within the options you need to choose. In our case it would be “NEW CLAIMANT”.

You choose the “File a Regular Unemployment Claim” option:

Form

You will then have access to a form:

This first page explains a little about what it takes to apply for unemployment benefits and also about the details of the process. At the bottom of this first page you will fill in your personal information: First name, Last name, date of birth, social security number and the state where you live. When everything is filled out, you click “Continue”.

Verification

You then ask us to verify the information. So you’re going to look and make sure it’s all written down. Your name, your date of birth, your Social Security number and your residence.

Applicant Proxy

On the next page we are asked several questions that we have to answer to each one.

• The first question is about whether you have lost your job because of the pandemic, and you will choose “Yes” or “No”.
• The next question is whether you lost your job because of the forest fires in Colorado. Same thing, you answer “Yes” or “No”.
• If your last employer was the military (“Yes” or “No”).
• He’ll ask you to place the last day he worked.
• Language in which we prefer to be contacted
• Are we filling out the form for someone else? (“Yes” or “No”).
• Are you sure you want to apply for unemployment benefits? (“Yes” or “No”).

Affirmation

On that page we must read and understand what it tells us, as it is very important.

The first thing is that we have to say that we are asking for unemployment benefits and we have an obligation to tell the truth. You cannot lie by filling out this form.
The second is that you have to be working and living in the United States legally to claim unemployment benefits. So you will need to confirm that you have U.S. citizenship or permission to work. This may require proof of your citizenship or work permit.
The last one is that by asking for unemployment benefits, you are authorizing the Department of Labor and Employment to share your information with the necessary federal and government agencies and that they will contact your employer to notify them and to confirm the information you filled out.
If you agree to this information, you click on the box “I have read and understand the above information” and then click “Continue.

Minimum Requirements

On this page we explain the minimum requirements for applying for unemployment.

The most important is that you must have earned a minimum of $2500 in the last year. It is also important that you have not lost your job because of you and you must be ready and available to work. If you have read all of this and understand it, check the box “I have read and I understand the above statements” and click “Continue”.

Screening Information

This page also asks us several questions about whether we qualify for unemployment benefits.

• The first question is whether you have been paid for an injury sustained at work in the last three years (“Yes” or “No”).
• The second question is whether you have applied for unemployment benefits in the last year in any other state or in Canada (“Yes” or “No”).
• And the last question is about whether you have been paid in the last year in Colorado (“Yes” or “No”).

Warning Important!

Here he explains that we are applying for unemployment benefits but have not finished them until we receive a confirmation number and in which we have 24 hours to fill out this form. You also have the option to save it or finish it later.

Union Information

On this page you ask us if you are a member of a Union and also if you get your job through an employment centre. You have to answer these questions with a “Yes” or “No”.

Military Employment

Here he asks you if you have served in the U.S. military on the dates indicated. You will choose “Yes” or “No”.

Employment

On this page you will ask us if we have worked for any non-military and non-federal employers since the date indicated. The question is about whether you have worked for an employer other than the military or the Federal Government since the date shown. For example, if you have worked for a company or business since the date, you will say yes, but if you have not worked for any company and have only worked for the military or the Federal Government, you will say no.

Then below you ask us to select all the states you have worked in since the date indicated. Once you have selected it, you click on “Continue”.

Private Base Period States

On this page you ask us to Confirm the States we have worked on. Here as we have selected Colorado, it shows us only Colorado, but if you have worked in other States here it will come out to confirm the listing of those States.

Federal Employment

On the next page you are asked if you have had a civil job with the Federal Government, including the Portal Service, since the date indicated. You answer “Yes” or “No” and click “Continue”.

Personal Information Page

On this page we continue with the personal information. Previously we filled in our first and last name and also if you have used another name since the date indicated.

You will also have to put your address information below. You will need to confirm that the address you have written or filled in is all correct, because if it is not correct it could prolong the time it takes for your unemployment benefit payments to arrive.
Then you will need to enter information related to:

• Email
• Phone numbers
• Gender
• Ethnicity
• Race
• Disability
• Veteran

Electronic Documents Options

Here it is very important to read and understand this page as it explains a little about how to receive your documents.

You will specify whether to receive documents by email or by post.

Legal Presence

Here he asks us questions about our legal status in the United States. First we must confirm whether or not I am an American citizen. If you check no, you must enter your alien registration number.
Below, it asks us to confirm that we are in the United States legally and that we have our work permit. You will then be asked to enter your driver’s license information or the type of identification you are asked to provide.

Tax Withholding

This page is about the tax withholding you prefer. Just choose the option you prefer or the one most suitable for you.

Usual Type of Work

Here are several options of type of work, in which you have to choose the most appropriate for you. You have to look at the options and see which one is the most suitable for you.

Workforce Center

On this page you ask us to choose a Workforce Center. This will help us to look for a job. There are many options here in Colorado, so you will look at the list and select the center that is right for you.

Choose a PIN

Here he explains that they will send us a PIN, which is a number to confirm our request. You should receive it in four or five days.

Colorado Employer No Wages

On this page you ask us several questions about where we work and how many hours and other such questions. You are going to fill this in with your own information.
Information to be filled in:

• Company Name
• Your position
• Name of your supervisor
• Your employer’s phone number
• Your employer’s address
• Address where you work
• First day worked
• Last day worked
• Salary for the amount of time
• Overtime
• Hours each week
• Why did you stop working?
• Have you worked for any other employer since this date?

Laid Off

Then you will be asked several more questions about how you lost your job. They’re going to ask you:

• Name and title of the person who fired you
• When the employer informed you of the dismissal
• Are there any other employers who have been fired?
• Is the employer going to ask you to go back to work?
• Why did you lose your job?
• You can add additional information

Part-Time Employment

If you were working Part-Time or if you have gone from Full-Time to Part-Time and are claiming unemployment benefits for lost hours, you will be asked for more information on the form. You will be asked the following:

• Your job is Part-Time?
• Does your employer hire seasonal employees?
• Did your employer cut off your hours?

If you are working fewer hours, there will be more questions in this section. In short, you will be asked the following:

• Did the employer cut off his hours?
• Was the reduction in hours due to lack of work?
• Was the reduction permanent or temporary?
• How many hours did you work before and after the change?
• Did you ask for the reduction in hours?
• Why did they cut off hours?
• The name of the person who told you that you had been cut off for hours
• Will the employer ask you to return to work?

If you lost all your work, these last questions will not appear to you, but if your hours were reduced, you will have to answer them.

Other Pay

On this page you ask us several questions about other payments we have received:

• Severance pay?
• Vacation pay?
• Or any other payment or severance pay other than your normal salary.
• Separation bonus?
• Any other separation payments?

Click “Continue”. You will then be asked the following question: Are you receiving any pension, 401k, or retirement benefits from your employer?

Confirm Employer

Here he asks us to confirm the employer’s information. So check that everything is correct. You also have the option on this page to add another employer.

Eligibility

If your employer calls you to come back to work, can you hire right away? That’s what they’re gonna ask you here.

Page Summary & Review

On this page you can review your answers to the previous questions. If you are satisfied continue to the next page.

Reminders and Certification

The information provided on this page is very important, so it is very important that you read it carefully.

On the date they tell you, you can ask for your benefits and every two weeks after that. You can access this information by registering at MyUI.
The following page explains in detail how the payment method works. There are two options:

• Debit card
• Direct deposit (into your bank account)

Certification Agreement

They’re asking you some questions again. You have to confirm that every week you ask for benefits so you can work, be available for work and be looking for work. You also confirm that you want to apply for unemployment benefits and that you are in the United States legally.

This would be the end of your application for unemployment benefits, and you should receive more information in the email or mail (whichever option you choose). More information will come to you in order to complete the process.