What the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment does

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) is the state agency that processes unemployment insurance claims, manages benefit payments, and handles disputes between workers and employers. When you file for unemployment in Colorado, CDLE is the organization that receives your claim, verifies your work history, determines whether you meet the requirements, and sends you payments if you are found to be may have access to to benefits.

CDLE operates the system through its Division of Unemployment Insurance. This division maintains records of your employment, calculates your benefit amount based on your earnings history, and manages the payment schedule. If your claim is denied or if there is a disagreement between you and your employer, CDLE also runs the appeals process.

The department also administers temporary programs that expand or supplement regular unemployment insurance during economic downturns or national emergencies. These programs have different rules and different time limits than the standard system, and CDLE manages both the regular and temporary sides.

Key Takeaways

  • CDLE receives your claim online through the myColorado portal or by phone, verifies your work history with your employer, and notifies you of approval or denial within two to three weeks in most cases.
  • Your weekly benefit amount is calculated from your earnings in the highest-earning quarter of the past 18 months, and the maximum weekly amount changes each year.
  • If CDLE denies your claim or your employer contests it, you have the right to request a hearing before an administrative law judge, and CDLE will send you written notice of how to do this.
  • CDLE also manages federal programs such as Pandemic Unemployment information and extended benefits during recessions, which have their own may be able to access rules and time limits.
  • You can contact CDLE by phone, through the myColorado portal, or by mail, but phone lines are often busy during high-volume periods.

How to file a claim with CDLE

You file your claim through the myColorado portal, which is CDLE's online system. Go to cdle.colorado.gov, select "File a Claim," and create a myColorado account if you do not already have one. You will need your Social Security number, driver's license or ID number, and information about your most recent job, including your employer's name, address, and the dates you worked there.

The system will ask you questions about why you are no longer working, whether you quit, were laid off, or were fired, and whether you have received any severance or final paycheck. Answer these questions accurately because CDLE uses them to determine whether you meet the basic requirements. If you were fired, be prepared to explain the reason; if you quit, you will need to show that you had good cause related to work.

After you submit your claim online, CDLE sends it to your employer for verification. Your employer has ten days to respond and can contest your claim if they believe you were fired for misconduct or if they dispute that you worked there. You will receive written notice of whether your claim was approved or denied, usually within two to three weeks.

If you cannot file online or prefer to file by phone, call the CDLE claims line at 303-318-8000. Wait times are longest on Mondays and Tuesdays and during the first week of the month. Have your information ready before you call.

What information CDLE needs from you

When you file, have these documents and details ready: your Social Security number, your Colorado driver's license or ID number, your most recent pay stub or W-2 form, the name and address of your current or most recent employer, the dates you worked there, and the reason your employment ended. If you were laid off, have the date the layoff took effect. If you were fired, write down the reason your employer gave you.

CDLE will also ask whether you have received any income since your job ended, including severance pay, vacation payout, or sick leave payout. These amounts reduce your benefit amount or delay your first payment, so report them accurately. If you are receiving workers' compensation or disability benefits, report that too.

Keep copies of everything you submit. If CDLE denies your claim and you request a hearing, you will need to show what you reported and when you reported it. Save your confirmation number from your online filing or your phone filing receipt.

How CDLE calculates your weekly benefit amount

CDLE looks at your earnings in the highest-earning quarter of the 18 months before you filed your claim. A quarter is three months: January–March, April–June, July–September, or October–December. The department takes your total earnings in that quarter, divides by 13, and multiplies by a percentage set by Colorado law. The result is your weekly benefit amount.

The maximum weekly amount changes each year based on Colorado's average wage. In 2024, the maximum is $667 per week, but this figure changes annually. The minimum is $25 per week. If your highest quarter earnings are very low, your weekly amount may fall below the minimum, and you will not be found to have a valid claim.

Your total benefit amount for the year is 26 times your weekly amount, unless you are on a temporary federal program, which may allow more weeks. CDLE deducts any severance, vacation payout, or other income you received after your job ended from your total benefit amount.

What happens if CDLE denies your claim

CDLE denies claims for several reasons: you did not work long enough or earn enough in the base period, you quit without good cause related to work, you were fired for misconduct, you are not able and available to work, or you did not meet the requirements of a temporary program. CDLE will send you a written notice explaining the reason and telling you how to request a hearing.

You have 20 days from the date on the notice to request a hearing. You do this by contacting CDLE in writing, by phone, or through the myColorado portal. At the hearing, an administrative law judge will listen to your side of the story and your employer's side, and will make a decision. You can represent yourself or bring a representative, including a lawyer.

If you win the hearing, CDLE will approve your claim and pay you back to the week you originally filed. If you lose, you can appeal to the Colorado Court of Appeals, but you must do this within 30 days of the hearing decision.

How to contact CDLE and track your claim

The main phone line for CDLE unemployment claims is 303-318-8000. This line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time. During high-volume periods, such as after a large layoff or recession, wait times can exceed two hours. Call early in the week if possible; Mondays and Tuesdays are busiest.

You can also track your claim status through the myColorado portal. Log in, go to "Unemployment Insurance," and select "View Claim Status." This page shows whether your claim is pending, approved, or denied, and it shows your weekly payment history if you are receiving benefits. You can also see any correspondence from CDLE or your employer.

If you need to mail documents to CDLE, send them to: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Unemployment Insurance, 633 17th Street, Suite 201, Denver, CO 80202. Include your name, Social Security number, and claim number on all documents.

Temporary and federal programs CDLE administers

In addition to regular unemployment insurance, CDLE manages federal programs that expand benefits during recessions or national emergencies. These programs have different may be able to access rules and different time limits. Pandemic Unemployment information (PUA) was available to self-employed workers, gig workers, and others not covered by regular unemployment insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic; this program ended in September 2021. Extended Benefits (EB) adds up to 13 additional weeks of payments when Colorado's unemployment rate is high; this program is available only during recessions.

If you are on regular unemployment and you exhaust your 26 weeks of benefits, CDLE will automatically move you to Extended Benefits if the program is active. You do not need to file a separate claim. CDLE will notify you by mail if you become may have access to to Extended Benefits.

Check the CDLE website at cdle.colorado.gov for current information about which temporary programs are active and what the rules are.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take CDLE to approve or deny my claim?

Most claims are processed within two to three weeks. CDLE sends your claim to your employer for verification, and your employer has ten days to respond. If your employer does not respond or does not contest your claim, CDLE approves it. If your employer contests it, CDLE may take longer to investigate.

Can I file a claim if I was fired?

You can file, but CDLE will likely deny your claim unless you can show that you were fired for a reason not related to misconduct. If you were fired for being late, absent, or violating a work rule, CDLE will probably deny you. If you were fired because your position was eliminated or because of a personality conflict with your manager, you may be found to have a valid claim. Request a hearing if CDLE denies you.

What if I disagree with the amount CDLE calculated?

CDLE will send you a written notice showing how it calculated your weekly amount. If you believe the calculation is wrong, contact CDLE by phone or through the myColorado portal and ask for a review. If CDLE does not change the amount, you can request a hearing to challenge the calculation.

Do I have to report my job search to CDLE?

Colorado requires you to be "able and available" to work to receive benefits, but you do not have to report specific job searches to CDLE. However, if CDLE contacts you and asks whether you are looking for work, you must answer truthfully. If you refuse work or stop looking for work, CDLE may stop your benefits.

What if I move out of Colorado while receiving benefits?

You can continue to receive Colorado benefits if you move to another state, but you must report the move to CDLE. Some states have agreements with Colorado to process payments for Colorado claimants who move there. Contact CDLE to report your new address and ask about the process in your new state.