Premiums are contributions paid by Colorado employers to help protect the economy. We administer these contributions by paying unemployment insurance benefits to persons unemployed through no fault of their own.
The premium rate for most employers (who are not a new employer) is primarily a function of three components:
- Premiums Paid: All contributions made by the employer over the life of the account.
- Benefits Charged: All benefits charged to the employer over the life of the account.
- Average Annual Payroll: The average annual chargeable wages reported during the previous three state fiscal years (July-June).
With these three variables, the Percent of Excess is calculated using the following formula:
(Premiums Paid - Benefits Charged) / Average Annual Payroll = Percent of Excess
With any given Rate Schedule, the Percent of Excess determines the rate assigned:
- With a higher Percent of Excess a lower rate is assigned.
- With a lower Percent of Excess (including negative excess) a higher rate is assigned.
In general:
- An increase in the amount of Premiums Paid will result in an increase in the Percent of Excess (assuming that Benefits Charged and Average Annual Payroll remain unchanged).
- An increase in the amount of Benefits Charged will result in a decrease in the Percent of Excess (assuming that Premiums Paid and Average Annual Payroll remain unchanged).
- How Benefit Charges from a Claim Might Impact My Rate
-
Ensuring accurate and proper payments is important for all employers, but is especially significant for small to midsize employers because of the effect on smaller businesses when payments are not made properly. Due to economies of scale, the account and rate for smaller employers can be more heavily impacted by benefits charges than that of larger employers. However, it is the responsibility of all parties, regardless of business size, to engage in accurate reporting.
The following examples illustrate how additional benefit charges may impact the rate calculation for employers who are not brand-new employers. Employers must go to the Colorado Employment Security Act (CESA), section 8-76-102.5, to view the Standard Premium Rate Schedule. The base rate assigned is based on the 2022, Premium Rates for the Reserve Ratio from .000 to Deficit due to the level of the Trust Fund as a proportion of total subject wages.
- Benefits Charged Against My Account
-
If you have benefits charged against your account, you will receive Form UIA-20, Statement of Benefit Charges, in the mail in the quarter after the charges occur. You have 60 days from the date the Statement of Benefit Charges is mailed to protest that statement.
- Rate Protest
-
If you believe there is an error in the figures used to calculate your rate, you may file a written protest to Form UITR-7, Your Unemployment Insurance Rate Notice. Rate protests can be submitted online starting December 1, 2022. The deadline for a Rate Protest to be submitted is January 13, 2023.
File A Written Protest
- The resulting Percent of Excess determines the rate assigned according to the rate schedule.
- The Premium Rate Schedule used for all Colorado premium-paying employers is determined by the Reserve Ratio. The Reserve Ratio is an indicator of the health of the unemployment compensation fund. A high ratio indicates a strong fund level and is reflected in a low rate schedule. A low ratio indicates a weak fund level resulting in a high rate schedule.
- The amount charged to an employer account is based on the benefits paid. Whether or not an individual is paid, and how much, depends on many factors such as reasons the individual separated, whether the individual meets the weekly requirements, and how quickly the individual returns to work.
Contact Unemployment Employer Services
cdle_employer_services@state.co.us
303-318-9100 (Denver-metro area)
1-800-480-8299 (outside Denver-metro area)
UI Employer Services
P.O. Box 8789
Denver, CO 80201-8789