What the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment actually does

Colorado's unemployment system is run by the Division of Unemployment Insurance, which sits inside the Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). This division processes claims, pays benefits, and handles the rules around who gets money and for how long. It is not a single office you walk into — it is a statewide system with regional offices, a call center, and an online portal where most of the actual work happens.

The division manages two main programs: regular unemployment insurance (UI) for workers laid off or let go, and Pandemic Unemployment information (PUA), which was a federal program that ended in September 2021 but still handles appeals and overpayment disputes. If you filed during the pandemic, you may still be dealing with CDLE about money they say you owe back.

CDLE also runs the Work Search program, which requires most people receiving benefits to look for work and report what they did. The state sets the rules, but your local American Job Center (run jointly with the state workforce system) is where you actually go to document your search or take a class that counts toward the requirement.

Key Takeaways

  • The Division of Unemployment Insurance within CDLE processes all regular UI claims and handles benefit payments, but most contact happens online or by phone, not in person.
  • Colorado requires work search documentation from most claimants, and your local American Job Center is where you report what you did each week.
  • If CDLE says you owe money back (an overpayment), you can request a hearing through their appeals process, and you have a important date to do so.
  • CDLE regional offices exist in Denver, Colorado Springs, and other cities, but calling the main line or using the online portal is usually faster than visiting in person.
  • The state's unemployment rate and labor market data come from CDLE's Labor Market Information section, which publishes monthly reports by county and industry.

How to contact CDLE and what each channel does

CDLE operates a phone line for unemployment questions: 303-318-8000 (toll-free: 1-888-213-6000). Wait times are longest on Mondays and Tuesdays. The line handles claim status, payment questions, work search issues, and overpayment disputes. If you are calling about a specific claim, have your Social Security number ready.

The online portal, myui.colorado.gov, is where you file your initial claim, certify for weekly benefits, report work search activity, and check your claim status and payment history. Most people file online because it is faster than calling and you get when ready confirmation. If you have never filed before, you will need to create an account and provide your Social Security number, driver's license or ID number, and employment history from the past 18 months.

Regional CDLE offices are located in Denver (main office), Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Grand Junction, and Pueblo. These offices handle in-person appointments for people who cannot file online, need help with forms, or want to appeal a decision in person. You can schedule an appointment through the website rather than showing up without one.

What happens after you file a claim

When you file, CDLE sends your claim to your former employer for verification. The employer has about 10 days to respond and say whether they agree you were laid off or whether they contest it (usually by saying you quit or were fired for misconduct). This is called the fact-finding process, and it determines whether you are found "able and available" to work.

If your employer does not contest the claim, CDLE approves it and you start certifying for weekly benefits. Certification means you log into myui.colorado.gov each week (usually on Sunday or Monday) and answer questions: Did you work? How many hours? Did you earn money? Did you refuse any job offers? Your answers determine your weekly payment amount.

If your employer contests the claim, CDLE sends you a letter with their reason and gives you a chance to respond. If you disagree with CDLE's decision after that, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. The hearing is usually by phone, and you can bring evidence or witnesses. This process can take 4 to 8 weeks.

Work search requirements and how to report them

Colorado requires most people receiving benefits to search for work and document it. You must make at least three work search contacts per week (a contact is explore for a job, talking to an employer, or attending a job training class). You report what you did each week when you certify for benefits online.

Your local American Job Center can help you meet this requirement. Centers offer free job search workshops, resume help, interview coaching, and access to job listings. Some workshops count as work search contacts if you attend them. You can find your nearest center at www.colorado.gov/cdle/american-job-centers.

If you do not report work search activity or if CDLE thinks you are not searching hard enough, they can deny your weekly payment or disqualify you from benefits. You can appeal this decision, but the burden is on you to show you were searching. Keep records of every process, email, and phone call.

Overpayments and what you owe back

An overpayment happens when CDLE paid you benefits you were not supposed to receive — usually because you did not report income, you were working while claiming, or your employer later proved you quit or were fired for misconduct. CDLE sends you a letter saying how much you owe and why. This letter also tells you that you have 20 days to request a hearing if you disagree.

If you do not request a hearing, CDLE can take the money back by reducing your future benefit payments, sending your debt to a collection agency, or offsetting your state tax refund. If you request a hearing, an administrative law judge will review whether the overpayment was your fault or CDLE's mistake. If it was CDLE's mistake, you do not have to repay it. If it was your fault but you did not know the rule, the judge may waive the repayment.

Overpayments from the pandemic unemployment programs (PUA and PEUC) are still being pursued by CDLE, and many people are receiving notices years after they received the money. If you received pandemic benefits and now owe money, the same appeal process applies: you have 20 days to request a hearing.

Understanding Colorado's benefit amounts and duration

Colorado's weekly benefit amount is based on your earnings in the highest-earning quarter of the past 18 months. The state calculates it as roughly 50 percent of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum. The maximum amount changes each year based on the state's average wage. In 2024, the maximum was around $680 per week, but this varies.

You can receive benefits for up to 26 weeks (six months) in a benefit year, which runs from July 1 to June 30. If you exhaust your 26 weeks and are still unemployed, you do not automatically get more — you would need to file a new claim in the next benefit year. During recessions, Congress sometimes passes federal extensions that add weeks, but these are temporary and require separate legislation.

Your benefit year is not the same as the calendar year. If you file in October, your benefit year runs from October through the following September. If you file again after that year ends, you start a new benefit year with a new 26-week clock.

Regional offices and in-person services

CDLE's main office is in Denver at 633 17th Avenue, Suite 201. The Colorado Springs office is at 2430 S. Academy Boulevard. Fort Collins, Grand Junction, and Pueblo also have offices. Each office handles initial claims for people who cannot file online, provides forms, and schedules hearings for people who want to appeal in person rather than by phone.

Walk-in hours vary by location, but most offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time. Scheduling an appointment ahead of time is strongly recommended because wait times for walk-ins can be several hours. You can schedule through the CDLE website or by calling 303-318-8000.

If you need an interpreter, call ahead and request one. CDLE can provide interpretation in Spanish and several other languages, but they need advance notice.

Labor market data and economic reports from CDLE

CDLE's Labor Market Information section publishes Colorado's monthly unemployment rate, job growth by industry, and wage data by county. These reports come out around the 20th of each month and cover the previous month's data. The reports are free and available at www.colorado.gov/cdle/labor-market-information.

The unemployment rate you see in the news comes from a federal survey (the Current Population Survey), but CDLE also publishes its own count based on UI claims filed. These two numbers do not match because they measure different things: the federal survey asks households if they are looking for work, while the UI count is people actually receiving benefits or who filed recently.

If you are researching job prospects in a specific industry or county, CDLE's reports show which sectors are growing and which are shrinking. This information can help you decide whether to retrain or look for work in a different field.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get my first payment after I file?

If your employer does not contest your claim, CDLE approves it within 7 to 10 days and you can start certifying for weekly benefits. Your first payment usually arrives within 7 to 10 days after you certify. If your employer contests the claim, the process takes longer — sometimes 4 to 8 weeks if it goes to a hearing.

What if I worked part-time while receiving benefits and did not report it?

CDLE will likely discover the work when they match your claim against wage records. This creates an overpayment, and you will owe the money back. You can request a hearing to explain the situation, but if you knowingly did not report work, the judge will probably uphold the overpayment. Report all earnings when you certify, even small amounts.

Can I appeal a decision if I disagree with it?

Yes. You have 20 days from the date on the letter to request a hearing. You can request it online through myui.colorado.gov, by mail, or by phone. An administrative law judge will review your case and issue a written decision. If you disagree with that decision, you can appeal to the Unemployment Insurance Board of Review.

What if I moved out of Colorado while receiving benefits?

You can continue to receive Colorado benefits if you are still looking for work in Colorado or if you moved for a job that fell through. However, you must report your move and your new address to CDLE. If you moved to another state and are looking for work there, you may need to file a claim in that state instead. Call CDLE to discuss your situation.

Do I have to repay pandemic unemployment benefits if CDLE says I was overpaid?

You can request a hearing to dispute the overpayment. If CDLE made a mistake or if you did not know the rules, a judge may waive the repayment. If the overpayment was your fault and you knowingly did not report income, you will likely owe it back. Many people are still receiving overpayment notices from pandemic programs years later.