Filing Your Claim
When you file your claim, you will need to do the following:
File your claim in the correct state
Please make sure to file your claim in the state where your most recent duty station is located. You can find your most recent duty station on your Notification of Personnel Action (SF50).
Don't wait to file your claim
The quickest and easiest way to file your claim is online through MyUI+. You can also file via phone by calling 303-318-9000. Please be aware: you will encounter a wait time to speak with a representative. You should file the next day after your last day of work. If you are furloughed and believe you may need unemployment insurance benefits, we suggest that you file as soon as possible after your last day of work. You may not get payment for weeks prior to the date you file the claim.
If you are a furloughed federal worker who filed for unemployment during the 2025 Government Shutdown and need to file again for benefits, you will need to reopen your claim.
To Reopen Your Claim:
- Log in to your MyUI+ account
- On the left side menu, click reopen claim.
- You will be asked to release your information to the division. Please click accept and click next.
- The system will ask you to review your contact, payment, and general information on the next screens.
- If your information has changed, click Edit on the appropriate screen to update it.
- If everything is accurate, you can click next.
- Please note: It is vital that your information is as up to date as possible to prevent delay or denial of your claim.
- Answer the question about whether or not you have worked.
- You will then be asked to give information about your employer. You will need to add your most recent employer and any other employer that you have worked for since you last reported information to CDLE.. Please follow the on-screen instructions depending on your situation.
- You will be asked, “Have you been notified by this employer of a definite return to work date within 16 weeks of the date you separated?”
- You should answer YES to this question if you have a reasonable expectation that you will return to work at a later date.
- The division recognizes that the government shutdown is unpredictable. We suggest you select 4/4/2026 as your return-to-work date. (We know this is not the actual date.)
- Make sure you select the checkbox that states you are unemployed due to the government shutdown.
- Once you have completed the employment information, click next.
- You will then answer some questions about your eligibility.
- Once you have completed these steps, click Submit to reopen your claim.
Sign up and verify your identity through ID.me
When you file your claim online through MyUI+ you will be required to verify your identity through ID.me. For information on the ID.me verification process, including necessary documentation, visit the Verify Your Identity with ID.me page.
Submit employment and wage paperwork
To file your claim you will need a Notification of Personnel Action (SF50), or a Notice to Federal Employee About Unemployment Insurance (SF8), or a check stub when requested. You should not wait to file your claim if you do not have these documents; you can always add them later.
If you have both the SF8 and the SF50 when you file your claim, please submit both documents on the screen where you upload any additional information for your claim.
If you need to add your SF8 and/or SF50 after you file your initial claim, please go to the upload documents form on our website. Make sure to select that you are a claimant, select that you are sending “Federal Claims Information Requested by the Division”, and include your claimant ID.
You will also need to submit information about your earnings for the last five completed calendar quarters. A calendar quarter is equal to 3-month segments of the year beginning in January. For information on starting the claims process and the documentation you will need to submit, please visit our Applying for UI Benefits page.
Select why you are out of work
Please review and select the appropriate reason why you are out of work. If you are laid off, select “layoff.” If you choose to resign rather than be laid off, please select the “quit” option. Selecting the “quit” option will result in an issue being added to your claim about your reason for quitting. If you have been furloughed by a government shutdown, select the checkbox for shutdown and then “laid off” and report your best estimate of when you will return to work.
Report any income or job separations
If you receive payment from your employer related to your resignation, layoff, or termination, you will need to report this income when filing your claim. If you are still receiving payments during the period you are not working, you may not be eligible to receive unemployment benefits during those weeks. If you are furloughed and then separated from your employment during the shutdown, you will need to report that during your weekly certification.
Choose a payment method
You will be required to choose a method of payment when you file your claim. CDLE provides benefit payment by either direct deposit to a verified bank account or a U.S. Bank ReliaCard®. For more information on payment types and details regarding bank verification, please visit our Payment page.
The federal government is legally obligated to pay federal workers back pay upon the end of a federal government shutdown per the 2019 Government Employee Fair Treatment Act. Any unemployment benefits you receive will be considered an overpayment once the federal shutdown ends, and you will be contacted by our overpayments team to help guide you through the process of repaying benefits.