Key Takeaways
- Colorado's maximum weekly unemployment benefit is $844 in 2026, up from $781, following the annual adjustment tied to two-thirds of the statewide average weekly wage.
- Benefits last up to 26 weeks under standard conditions.
- Colorado's partial UI formula uses a 25% earnings disregard — you can earn up to 25% of your WBA per week before your benefit is reduced.
- Colorado taxes unemployment benefits as ordinary state income at a flat 4.4% rate for 2026; federal taxes also apply.
- Beyond UI, unemployed Coloradans can access Health First Colorado (Medicaid — expanded), CHP+ (CHIP), SNAP, LEAP energy assistance, and career services through Workforce Centers statewide.
Colorado’s unemployment insurance program — managed by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) — raised its maximum weekly benefit to $844 in 2026, up from $781 in 2025. Colorado sets its maximum at two-thirds of the statewide average weekly wage, adjusted each January, keeping benefits closely tied to actual wage levels in the state. Compare Colorado to all 50 states at SavingToInvest’s state unemployment benefits guide.
2026 Benefit Amounts and Duration
Colorado’s maximum weekly benefit is $844 for 2026. The minimum is $25. Benefits last up to 26 weeks.
Your Weekly Benefit Amount is calculated at 60% of your average weekly wage over the base period, subject to the $844 cap. The base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before filing.
Things can change — I’ll update this page when any adjustments are announced. Subscribe here to get notified.
Who Qualifies
To receive Colorado UI benefits, you must:
- Have earned wages in covered employment during the base period
- Have wages in your highest quarter of at least $2,500
- Have total base period wages of at least 40× your WBA
- Have lost your job through no fault of your own (layoff, reduction in force, business closure)
- Be physically able and available for suitable full-time work
- Actively seek employment — Colorado requires at least five job search activities per week
Register with Colorado’s job center at connectingcolorado.com and certify biweekly through MyUI+ at myui.coworkforce.com or by phone at 303-536-5615.
Workers fired for misconduct or who quit without good cause are generally ineligible. Colorado recognizes good cause for domestic abuse, medical conditions, and substantial employer-imposed changes to working conditions.
Partial Unemployment for Part-Time Workers and Reduced Hours
Colorado’s partial UI formula: the earnings disregard is 25% of your WBA per week. Earnings above that threshold reduce your benefit dollar-for-dollar.
For example, if your WBA is $700 (25% = $175) and you earn $300:
- Disregard: $175
- Deductible earnings: $300 − $175 = $125
- Adjusted WBA: $700 − $125 = $575
Workers on reduced hours can also file for partial benefits. Note: Colorado recently implemented SharedWork (work-sharing) as a formal program — employers can reduce hours instead of laying off workers, with employees collecting partial UI for the reduced hours without the normal job-search requirement during the SharedWork period. All earnings must be reported when certifying through MyUI+.
Tax Implications of Colorado Unemployment Benefits
Colorado taxes unemployment compensation as ordinary income at the flat 4.4% state rate for 2026 (down from 4.55% in prior years — Colorado has been gradually reducing its income tax rate). At $844/week for 26 weeks, that’s roughly $963 in state tax.
At the federal level, UI is taxable as ordinary income. You’ll receive Form 1099-G from CDLE by January 31. You can elect federal and state withholding when certifying through MyUI+. Withholding is recommended.
How to File
File your claim at myui.coworkforce.com or call 303-536-5615. You’ll need your Social Security number, work history for the past 18 months, and bank account details for direct deposit or a Money Network debit card.
There is a one-week waiting period before benefits start. After approval, certify biweekly through MyUI+ — report all earnings and five weekly job-search activities each period.
If your claim is denied, you have 20 days from the mailing date to file an appeal with the CDLE Division of Unemployment Insurance.
Other Benefits Available to Unemployed Colorado Workers
Health First Colorado (Medicaid): Colorado expanded Medicaid in 2013 through Health First Colorado. Adults earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level qualify for free comprehensive coverage. Apply at colorado.gov/pacific/hcpf or PEAK (coloradopeak.secure.force.com).
CHP+ (Children’s Health Insurance Program): Colorado’s Child Health Plan Plus provides low-cost health coverage for children and pregnant women up to 260% of the federal poverty level. Apply at colorado.gov/pacific/hcpf.
SNAP (Food Assistance): Colorado SNAP provides monthly food benefits via EBT. Apply through PEAK or your county department of human or social services. Net income limits are at 100% of the federal poverty level.
LEAP (Low-Income Energy Assistance Program): Colorado’s LEAP helps with heating costs during the winter season. Applications typically open in November. Apply at cdhs.colorado.gov/leap or your county human services office.
Colorado Workforce Centers: Colorado’s Workforce Center network provides free job placement, skills training, resume help, and access to WIOA-funded training programs. Find your nearest center at cdle.colorado.gov.
What to Watch in 2026 and Beyond
Colorado’s benefit maximum adjusts each January. The 2027 rate will depend on statewide wage growth. Colorado also has the SharedWork program — if you’re working reduced hours, ask your employer about SharedWork as an alternative to full layoff. I’ll update this page when the 2027 maximum is announced.
PLEASE HELP NEED LAWYER ,
I originally filed for The pandemic unemployment insurance on March 3rd , 2021. I have been self employed for years. I’m a
30 + year Union Pipefitter outta Chicago’s local 597.
2019 hit me hard and bad.
I never knew PUA was even available for self employed guys like me. In any case.
I’ve always earned my money by working.
So, March 3rd 2021, I file a PUAI Claim. , Everything seemed good until April 1st 2021 came and that’s when Everything for me began to go sideways, twisted , and yes , ” DISCOMBOBULATED ”
, I told ya , I really am from Chicago.
Well April 1st, 2021 is when the Federal Govt. Mandated that every person who applies for benefits “HAS TO GET THEIR IDENTITY VERIFIED THROUGH THAT
“” ID.ME “” COMPANY.
Well, according to the Dept of Labor here in Colorado, I had to be verified through this company even though I applied on March 3rd, 2021.
1st. Delayed Excuse, Ok , So for a whole month I’m waiting for my benefits to start coming along with my back pay which at that time was October 12, 2020.
So, I create an account with this ID.Me place, follow the steps , now my first initial submission of documents that I provided them were based off a multiple list of approved documents , in each category.. I provided them the following:
1. Valid State of Colorado I.D.. pics of both front and back.
2. An Original Social Security Card.
3. A current Bill with my Address.
4. A bank statement from my bank . Savings & checking.
Everything was accepted eventually that same day other than me having to take a few better pictures so the system could read them , guess they were a bit blurry or something. Anyway.
So after about 3 weeks , haven’t heard from Dept of Labor, or this IDMe place.
So I call the DepT of Labor.
Well after waiting on the phone for like 2 in half hours, I finally talk to a lady who looks up my case.
In short , They can’t move forward with anything regarding my case until I’m verified. Duhhhh. Well that’s why I’m calling. What’s is my Status, I haven’t gotten anything in the mail , texts or emails. Lady tells me I gotta call them at the IDMe place.
Well , come to find out , Thier office is right here in Lakewood , Colorado. But it’s just that , an office building , with none there , not even a security guard. Found that out after a 2 month period of waiting for someone to contact me after submitting like 37 Complaints over 2 in a half month time period. Yeah, I went to Thier building to get a straight answer.
Well, , A supervisor, at the Dept of Labor, set up an in person interview with me at Thier office on 17th n California, in Denver, she was great. Guess alot of people., In the thousands we’re having issues with this company IDMe.. well, I showed this lady everything I had and step by step, she submitted all my documents into Thier computer at the Dept of Labor, directly to the IDMe company. Everything went through, and after , the system said , it would take 24 to 36 hours for review and verification approval. Great right? WRONG ..
This in person interview was May 15th, 2021. , June 1st, still nothing , so I start emailing & calling again.
After about 3 weeks , June 9th ,2021, I go back down to the Dept of Labor. The building was still Appt. ONLY. but the Security Guard remembered me , and he allowed me to wait outside while he went to find the lady that helped me on May 15th. She invited me in , and I explained everything to her in much more detail than this.
Oh , I got about 170 screenshots, 93 emails, 2 certified registered mailed letters that were returned to me without a signature , just a postmark that said “” UNDELIVERABLE””.
UNF#! KING BELIEVABLE
is more like it.
So , I show her everything and she can’t believe it either.
She calls a contact liasin at the IDMe place and step by step we login into my account with the Dept of Labor, click the little green IDMe link login into the IDMe site, and when I put my username and password in , Correctly , The system Notified me that “There’s already a username in our system, please choose another one ” then it gave me 4 different examples I could choose from..
WTF is right. Well after about 3 hours, this liason guy, figured it out. Because I had an email account beith the Department of Labor first, I used a different one for the IDMe company. Well, I set my accounts up before the Federal Mandate went into affect, As of April 1st, Everyone that goes through the Department of Labor, has to use the same exact email for the IDMe company. So, I was told that I fell threw the cracks and they were sorry.
Ok , Where’s my Dam Money, right. Ok, your information was all submitted and it looks fine , please allow about 2 to 3 weeks for your first check to be deposited in your bank account, and approx. 1 week after that, you’ll receive a deposit for half of your “back pay ” and approx. 2 weeks after that , you’ll receive the other half.
Now this is May, 15th, 2021.
What if I told you that As of today’s date, January 27th, 2022, I still haven’t received a penny at all from Anyone.
My Account says “pending issues : Wage Correction , Adjudication / Pending, . It’s said that since October 6th , 2021.
I call them about 3 times a week , and I’ve heard all kinds of different things.
A ticket was submitted to a supervisor, the team that works specifically on the PUA BACKPAYMENTS, have your case , and they must just be backlogged , c’mon it’s almost been a dam year, and not 1 red cent.
I’ve written, L etters to my Districts State Representative, Joe Barely he’s the Colorado Executive Director of Labor and Employment, the State Attorney General’s Office The State Treasure, The State legislatures office specifically I wrote to Leroy Garcia Steven fenberg and Chris holbert no response of course.
Now based on what the Department of Labor posts on how to do a calculation of what your payments would be in my account it states that from between April 4th 2021 to September 6th of 2021 I have a total of $17,933
I don’t know why they’re using April 4th for my begin date because I originally applied March 3rd they told me that I had to fill out a standard unemployment insurance claim in so that they can show that I was ineligible for standard unemployment insurance and that’s what makes me eligible for the pandemic unemployment insurance.
But they’re using April 4th to September 6th for the back payment dates they’re not even including anything beyond or prior to March 3rd and when I originally applied that went back to October 12th of 2020.
And as I followed their instructions and calculated my income and the money that they would have paid me from October 12th 2020 until March 2nd of 2021 I came up with $16,954.
So I came up with a grand total of $34,887 the Department of Labor owes me just in back pay.
I was told that as of September 6th 2021 when the pandemic unemployment insurance ended that I did not have to submit any more work things for work searches although all of the work searches that I performed during the periods between March 3rd up until September 6th I had to maintain those records for at least 2 years and so that if they wanted to audit me that I can prove that I actually did job searches during those periods that I had to maintain those records which I have and I submitted those as well to the Department of Labor.
So I realize that this is very long but this is where I’m at if an attorney can help me or does money could be recovered I’m willing to pay 10%, which is right at about $3,500 bucks for your time and services I need a lawyer badly can someone please help me
Thank you so much Joe