If you've filed for unemployment in Colorado — or are about to — you'll almost certainly interact with MyUI+, the state's online portal for managing unemployment insurance claims. Understanding what the system does, how it's structured, and what claimants are expected to do through it can help you avoid delays and missed payments.
MyUI+ is the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment's (CDLE) web-based platform for unemployment insurance. It replaced the earlier MyUI system and serves as the central hub where claimants:
The system is available at the CDLE's official website and is designed to handle most of the unemployment process digitally, though phone options remain for claimants who can't access the portal.
When you first apply for unemployment benefits in Colorado, you'll create an account in MyUI+ and complete an initial claim application. This process collects the information CDLE uses to determine eligibility, including:
Colorado, like all states, uses a base period wage test to determine whether you've earned enough to qualify for benefits. The state also reviews your reason for leaving work — layoffs, discharges, and voluntary quits are each evaluated differently under Colorado law. What you enter in this initial application shapes what happens next, including whether your claim goes into adjudication or proceeds directly to a determination.
Being found eligible doesn't mean payments arrive automatically. Colorado claimants must submit a weekly certification through MyUI+ for each week they want to receive benefits. This is sometimes called "filing your weekly claim."
Each weekly certification asks you to report:
Colorado requires claimants to complete a minimum number of work search contacts per week. The exact requirement can vary based on current program rules, labor market conditions, and any waivers in effect. MyUI+ has a built-in section where you log these contacts — recording the employer, method of contact, position applied for, and outcome. Failing to complete required work searches or accurately report them can affect your benefits.
Once your initial claim is submitted, CDLE reviews the information and may send a fact-finding questionnaire through MyUI+. Your former employer is also notified and given an opportunity to respond. If there's a dispute — about your reason for separation, your earnings, or your eligibility — the claim enters adjudication, a formal review process.
During adjudication, you may be asked to upload documents or answer follow-up questions through the portal. Determinations are issued and viewable in MyUI+. If your claim is approved, payments are issued according to your weekly certifications. If denied, the determination letter will explain the reason and your options.
Colorado calculates your weekly benefit amount (WBA) based on your wages during the base period. The state uses a formula tied to your highest-earning quarter, and benefit amounts are subject to a weekly minimum and maximum set by state law — both of which are adjusted periodically. 🔢
The number of weeks you can collect benefits depends on your total base period wages and Colorado's program rules, up to a state maximum. During periods of high unemployment, extended benefit programs may add additional weeks, though these programs have their own eligibility requirements and aren't always active.
If you receive a denial or a determination you disagree with, Colorado's unemployment system allows you to file an appeal. The MyUI+ portal is where you can initiate that appeal and track its status. Appeals must typically be filed within a specific number of days from the determination date — that deadline is noted on your determination letter.
The appeals process in Colorado involves a hearing before an independent hearing officer. Both you and your employer may present information. The timeline and outcome depend on the facts of your case, your separation circumstances, and applicable Colorado statutes.
| Stage | What Happens | Where It Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Claim | Application submitted; employer notified | MyUI+ |
| Adjudication | Agency reviews disputed facts | MyUI+ / phone |
| Determination | Decision issued; benefits start or denied | MyUI+ |
| Appeal | Hearing requested; officer reviews case | MyUI+ / hearing |
No two claims work out exactly the same way. The factors that affect what you receive — or whether you receive anything at all — include:
Colorado's rules govern each of these factors, and the specific facts of your work history and separation determine how those rules apply to your claim. MyUI+ is the system that connects you to that process — but what comes out of it depends on information the portal alone can't interpret for you.