Filing An Unemployment Claim
Anyone can file for unemployment, however, there are criteria you have to meet to qualify for benefits. If you received $2,500 or more in wages on a W-2 from any employer where taxes were withheld during the last 18 months, you may qualify for unemployment benefits.
Before you file a claim, gather your income-related information, such as pay stubs. Be prepared to provide information about work you have performed in the last 18 months, including the legal name and address of the business, dates you worked, and rate of pay. When you are ready to file a claim, go to MyUI+. You will need to create an account and follow the instructions to start a new claim.
MyUI+
You can file and manage your claim online with MyUI+, you can open a claim, check the status of your claim, request weekly payment, request information, and more through our safe and secure portal. You can also access MyUI+ anytime on your mobile device.
Once you register, your account will be valid for any future claims so remember your password and check often to ensure your account information is up to date, even after your claim ends.
If you need help setting up your account in the MyUI+ system, requesting weekly benefits, or help with a program integrity issue on your claim, please contact us.
NOTE: You may cancel your claim within 12 calendar days of filing it. You must call and notify us of your wish to cancel. If you do not cancel within 12 calendar days of filing, your claim will remain on file for the duration of the claim year whether or not you keep it active.
Personal Identification Number
You will receive a personal identification number (PIN), which you must use if you plan to request benefit payments by phone or want to access your claim on our Virtual Agent. It is your responsibility to keep your PIN in a safe and secure place. Do not share this PIN with anyone. If your PIN is used without your authorization, you may be held responsible.
Verifying Your Identity
Any time you start an unemployment claim, reopen a claim, or need to make certain changes to your claim info, we will ask you to verify your identity. Please make sure you complete all identity verification tasks as soon as possible so that your claim will keep moving. You may also be asked to complete an extra identity verification process, where you will have to upload a picture of your ID and take a selfie; or visit a USPS location to verify in person.
What Happens After You File A Claim
After you submit your application for unemployment insurance benefits, the Division of Unemployment Insurance conducts a thorough review of your claim. Processing your claim will typically take 4-6 weeks, but could take longer, depending upon the circumstances of your separation, your qualifying wages, or other factors that could make your claim more complex.
When we review your claim, we examine the information you submitted and contact all the employers you worked for in the past 18 months. We do this to learn more about the circumstances related to your job separations.
We also review your claim information to help determine your eligibility. Please review the Eligibility for UI Benefits page to understand whether or not you may be eligible for benefits, and how to maintain your eligibility if your claim is approved.
Keep Your Claim Moving Forward
Make Good Use of
Your MyUI+ Account
You may have used MyUI+ to complete your application for unemployment. You can also use your MyUI+ account to answer follow-up questions we may have about your application or job separations, to request benefits online and to check the status of payments.
Verifying Your Identity
You will be asked to verify your identity when you complete your unemployment application and when you make some changes to your account information. You may be asked to verify your identity more than once. Please note that your benefit payment will not be released until you have verified your identity.
Request Payment EVERY WEEK
You will need to request payment/certify your unemployment status every week, even if your claim has not yet been approved/denied. If you fail to request payments within the specified timeframe, the system will assume that you are back to work and no longer need benefits. This will close your claim and prevent your ability to request payment.
Understand the Waiting Week
Under Colorado law, the first week for which you are eligible for unemployment benefits is a week for which you are not paid. This is called the waiting week. The waiting week does not mean that you must wait a week to apply for unemployment insurance benefits. You should apply for unemployment insurance benefits right after you have completed your last day of work.
Quickly Return Any Follow-Up Documentation We Send You
After applying for unemployment insurance benefits, you will receive several important documents. These documents will either be delivered to your MyUI+ account or via the U.S. mail. We recommend selecting electronic delivery, as it will expedite any claim-related documents and may result in a faster decision on your claim. Make sure that you read and respond to any requests for information as soon as possible to avoid any delays in processing.
Here are a few tips to ensure your documents are processed as quickly as possible:
DO:
- Use MyUI+ to respond to questionnaires, file an appeal, or upload supporting documentation (as one complete document when possible), rather than faxing or mailing. Mailing/Faxing will extend processing times.
- Return the barcoded CDLE form with any supporting documentation, and put that form on the top!
- Include your name, Claimant ID number on any pages which are not a barcoded CDLE form.
- When returning multiple forms, make sure all pages are in the proper order with the CDLE barcoded form being on top of any supporting documentation for each form.
- If you are unable to return the form, include the Document ID on all pages. This can be found at the bottom left corner of the form.
- If sending via fax, you must use the correct fax number as listed on the form. Sending documents to the wrong number can result in significant delays in processing.
DON'T:
- When submitting documents by fax, don’t include a cover page other than the CDLE barcoded form.
- Do not upload one page at a time for multiple page documents (submit as one complete document when possible).
- Do not send the same documentation multiple times.
- Do not send the same documentation both electronically and by mail or fax.