Unemployment Insurance

If you've returned to the U.S. after working abroad as a Foreign Service Officer or with a U.S. government contractor or implementing partner, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits through Colorado’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) program.

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Visit the CDLE Resources for Federal Workers page.

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Quick Survey

Tell us about your Colorado Unemployment Insurance experience!

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Tips from Our Community​

Determine Your Eligibility

You may qualify for unemployment benefits if:

• Direct Hires/FSOs: 

  • If your home state is Colorado, you will likely file for unemployment here. 

  • If you listed a different home state but are moving to Colorado, you may run into issues. Use the Signal group to find others who have dealt with this.

• Contractors/Implementing Partners:

  • If your company was registered and you were paying unemployment taxes in Colorado, you should be able to file.

  • If your company was not registered in Colorado, you may run into issues. Use the Signal group to find others who have dealt with this.

 

File an Initial Claim

• Do this as soon as you can when you are eligible! 

• Start your UI submission online, and upload as much of your paperwork as you can.

 

Submit Required Documentation

Depending on your employment type, you may need:

For federal employees (e.g., Foreign Service Officers):

• SF-8 (Notice to Federal Employee About Unemployment Compensation)

• SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action)

• Recent federal pay stubs or earnings statements

 

For contractors or implementing partner staff:

• Separation notice or termination letter from your employer

• W-2 forms or recent pay stubs showing wages and employment dates

• Employer contact information

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Call UI Hotline

• Within the next week, call the UI Hotline or make an appointment through your Workforce Center (many of us have used the Broomfield Center even if we don’t live there) for a call to the UI Hotline, so that you can make sure everything looks good.

  1. The Workforce Centers have a “direct line” to the UI Hotline. If you don’t do this, you might be stuck on the phone for hours! We highly recommend making the Workforce Center appointment and using their “direct line” – it will likely save you a lot of time.

  2. When you call the UI Hotline, they will go through your submission and look for any issues and help you troubleshoot.

 

File Weekly Certifications

After your initial claim, log in each week to certify that you’re still unemployed and actively seeking work. This is required to keep receiving benefits.

• For each week you’re eligible, you can submit the online certification beginning on Sunday.

• Watch for any emails from the UI system.

 

Review Your Benefit Determination

Once processed, you’ll receive a notice detailing your benefit amount and duration. This is based on your wages and employment history, typically over the last 12–18 months.

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Helpful Contacts:

• Colorado UI Hotline: 1-800-388-5515

• Online Resources: https://cdle.colorado.gov/unemployment

• In-person support: https://cdle.colorado.gov/jobs-training/workforce-centers

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Tips & Tricks

• Did you know? You can certify for prior weeks when your claim is being corrected. Don't miss out on payments that you should receive!

• For federal wage verification, you MUST fax. It is not accepted any other way.

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Reskilling?

If you are receiving Unemployment Insurance benefits, the QUEST Grant may be a resource you can utilize. The QUEST initiative focuses on connecting Coloradans with high-quality jobs in growing industries such as Healthcare, Infrastructure, Transportation & Logistics. This opportunity is available through June 30, 2026.