How to file for unemployment in Colorado
The fastest way to file for unemployment in Colorado is online through Colorado Department of Labor & Employment (CDLE) at cdle.colorado.gov. Colorado pays up to $884 per week, has one unpaid waiting week before benefits begin, and regular state benefits run up to 26 weeks. File the week your job ends, since claims generally do not backdate, and choose "laid off / no fault" as your reason.
HOW MUCH YOU CAN GET
Up to $884 / week
About 60% of your average weekly wage from your two highest-earning recent quarters, up to the cap.
Minimum: $25/week. Effective July 2026. Your exact amount comes from your wage history; Colorado Department of Labor & Employment (CDLE) calculates it when you file.
Just laid off? Unemployment is one of five clocks
Severance review, COBRA, health coverage, and the rest: every first-week deadline in one place. Free, no account needed.
Colorado unemployment at a glance
Agency
Colorado Department of Labor & Employment (CDLE)
Official portal
cdle.colorado.gov
Ways to file
Online · Phone
Max weekly benefit
$884/week
Waiting week
One unpaid waiting week
Max benefit weeks
Up to 26 weeks
Claims are filed and managed through the MyUI+ portal (login requires ID.me); phone filing is (303) 318-9000 in Denver-metro or (800) 388-5515 outside it.
File in the state where you worked, not where you live. Worked in more than one? Start with the agency where you live now.
Filing is always free. No real state or federal program charges a fee to file. If a site asks for payment, it's a scam.
How to file, step by step
1
Gather your documents (see the checklist below) before you start.
2
Go to the official state portal: cdle.colorado.gov.
3
Create an account and complete any identity verification the state requires.
4
File your initial claim. For the separation reason, choose "laid off / no fault," not "fired" or "quit."
5
Then certify each week (answer the weekly questions) to keep benefits coming, and set up direct deposit.
What to have ready
Your Social Security number and a government photo ID.
Employer details for the last 18 months: each company's name, address, and your dates there.
The reason you left each job. For this one, that's "laid off / no fault," not "fired" or "quit."
Your most recent pay stubs and last year's W-2.
Bank routing + account number, if you want benefits paid by direct deposit.
Colorado unemployment FAQ
How do I file for unemployment in Colorado?
File online through Colorado Department of Labor & Employment (CDLE) at cdle.colorado.gov. Have your Social Security number, photo ID, and 18 months of employer details ready, and choose "laid off / no fault" as your reason for leaving. You can also file by phone.
How much is unemployment in Colorado?
Colorado pays up to $884 per week. About 60% of your average weekly wage from your two highest-earning recent quarters, up to the cap. Figure effective July 2026; confirm your exact amount with Colorado Department of Labor & Employment (CDLE) when you file.
Does severance affect unemployment in Colorado?
Colorado (C.R.S. 8-73-110) postpones benefits by the number of weeks equal to total severance divided by the claimant's usual weekly wage (remainder disregarded), regardless of lump sum or installments, without reducing the total benefit entitlement. File the week your job ends either way and answer the portal's questions honestly; the agency applies the rule. (Researched July 2026; confirm current treatment with Colorado Department of Labor & Employment (CDLE).)
Is there a waiting week for unemployment in Colorado?
Colorado: one unpaid waiting week. A waiting week is an unpaid first week of a claim; where it applies you still file and certify during it.
How many weeks of unemployment can I get in Colorado?
Colorado pays regular state benefits for up to 26 weeks. Federal extensions can change this in a downturn; confirm the current rule with Colorado Department of Labor & Employment (CDLE).
Official references
How unemployment insurance works (US DOL)
Plain-language overview of eligibility, the unpaid waiting week, and weekly certification.
Unemployment is taxable (IRS Topic 418)
Benefits count as income. Consider asking Colorado to withhold so tax time isn't a surprise.
Keep going
The unemployment guide
Waiting weeks, weekly certification, and the timing that trips people up.
Not your state? See all states
The official place to file in every other state.
Reviewed July 2026. State rules change; confirm the current waiting week and benefit weeks on the official Colorado portal (cdle.colorado.gov) before you rely on them.