And for months, the unemployed could not send an email or leave a message — even to fix a simple error such as the wrong furlough start date, as one Colorado Sun reader had done. After weeks of random and unsuccessful calls to the state’s unemployment phone number, Jamie Scappaticci set aside Tuesday to connect with any living soul who’d answer the unemployment help line at 800-388-5515. But if you must call in, here’s what to expect, according to data shared by the Labor Department: This story was updated at 11 a.m. on May 28, 2020 to include new tools and measures the Colorado Department of Labor is rolling out by June 1, 2020. Once registered, you’ll get a PIN by email or snail-mail to access benefits (manage them at myui.coworkforce.com/Welcome) and to request payments every two weeks. Colorado began accepting claims for PUA on April 20. Dates of employment. The state will launch its new “virtual agent” system after the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s perpetually over-stressed call center closes Tuesday afternoon, Jeff Fitzgerald, the chief of the state unemployment program, said Thursday. Everyone who qualifies for even just $1 of regular unemployment benefits, will be paid an extra $600 per week as part of the Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC), thanks to the federal CARES Act. (Updated 5/28/20). “At a high level, I can say that where we can automate or schedule a callback for the issues causing a call, we’re implementing some of those solutions,” said Cher Haavind, deputy executive director for the Department of Labor. Starting Wednesday, a machine will be answering the Colorado unemployment office’s customer support line, and busy signals will be a thing of the past. The ability to leave a message and get a call back is coming, possibly even this week. One issue some employers have is in rehiring workers to reopen their business or qualify for federal Paycheck Protection Plan loan forgiveness. Some workers don’t want to return to old jobs because they make more money on unemployment. The CARES Act also adds 13 weeks of benefits and can be paid out until Dec. 26. Is anyone else experiencing this? As many businesses remain closed and unemployment rates skyrocket, it's no secret that people are fed up. That number is … He expects that in the early going, callback schedules will fill up quickly, just as the schedule for in-person meetings in the labor department’s lobby have. A caveat: For self-employed workers who earned at least $2,500 in the past 18 months and filed a W-2 form, federal law requires those folks to file for regular state unemployment first and exhaust those benefits before applying for PUA. Here are some changes made since March: Regular unemployment benefits are 55% of a person’s average weekly salary (including tips) over a 12-month period. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment office in Denver's Capitol Hill neighborhood on March 21, 2020. “It provides equity for folks getting in. Calls to the state's unemployment call center are 10-30 times higher than pre-coronavirus. Expect more how-to videos, callback forms and more technology, like virtual agents, to handle the volume of calls. As a news piece, this article cites verifiable, third-party sources which have all been thoroughly fact-checked and deemed credible by the Newsroom in accordance with the Civil Constitution. If you file a claim, save the following unemployment phone numbers to your phone so you know you’re receiving a legitimate call from L&I: 888-313-7284 – regular UC; 855-284-8545 – Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) phone number The Military Service Center can be reached at 800-934-9555 and is open Monday through Friday from 7 a. You will receive complete instructions and will be asked for information in order to begin your claim. It’s now taking two to six weeks to get a payment, depending on how complicated the case is. So far, the state says 86% of the folks who have filed a claim are receiving the benefit, while the others are still being processed. 2 NEWS called the state’s unemployment line. When you call the CO unemployment phone number, make sure that you have the following information: 1. You must request the payment of unemployment insurance benefits every two weeks. Can't do the online thing, keeps telling me to cal. Virtual agent to answer Colorado unemployment calls beginning next week, U.S. layoffs remain elevated as 803,000 seek jobless aid, Congress approves $900B COVID relief bill, sending to Trump, Coloradans in Congress vote for COVID relief largely along party lines, Highlights of $900 billion COVID-19 relief, wrapup bills, Congress seals agreement on $900 billion COVID relief bill, Colorado’s unemployment call center will likely never meet COVID-driven demand, as 40,000 calls go unanswered weekly, More than 617,000 Coloradans have filed unemployment claims since mid March. Close. Call 1 (877) 600-2722 for assistance. Oregon’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) call center is presently experiencing very high call volumes. If the automated system can’t help a caller, it will allow them to schedule a callback from an unemployment office staffer as long as the caller can make themselves available during a two-hour window, Fitzgerald said. State officials have emphasized the importance of technology — online how-to videos, an automated chatbot on the website — in meeting the demand. “We should not have those long of wait times, and the department knows that. I was laid off from my job on March 16 (with the 8 week restaurant/bar closures) and applied for job-attached unemployment the next day. In Colorado, the number of unemployment benefit claims went from 400 on March 9 to 3,900 on Monday and then 10,000 on Wednesday. Hope this helps someone. In the first week that hordes of workers lost their jobs due to coronavirus closures, the state’s unemployment call centers saw calls increase 10 fold, with 99,000 calls in a week compared to 9,900 the prior week. Unemployment phone number busy regardless of time of day. “I would say by any reasonable measure its behind,” Hansen said. The unemployment division's call center — which has typically been open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday — has expanded to include Saturday hours from 12-4 p.m. (Eric Lubbers, The Colorado Sun), Primary category in which blog post is published, How to submit an opinion piece to The Sun, Learn more about Civil’s Credibility Indicators, added a request form for claimants to backdate claims without calling in. If you have filed for unemployment benefits (claimant) and think you should have received a Notice of Decision, or if the phone line or MyUI says you are disqualified or postponed and you don't know why, call the Customer Contact Center at 303-318-9000 or 1-800-388-5515 to find out. The pandemic unemployment assistance call center, which serves self-employed people, gig economy workers and others, will not use the new technology. The bad news? Each time, a voice message said the line was busy and to try again later. The payment of unemployment insurance benefits is supported by the collection of premiums from employers. within 3-4 days of filing. They’re part of a captive population at the National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center outside Fort Collins where there have been no cases of COVID-19 to date. Virtual agent to answer…, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Submit to Stumbleupon (Opens in new window). The next one is set for Friday, May 29, at 9:15 a.m. in English and 11:30 a.m. in Spanish (register at, Benefits are retroactive to March 29 and, if you remain eligible, can last until the end of July, Those on regular unemployment don’t have to do a thing to get PUC. A worker could also lose unemployment benefits if they return to work part-time or receive other job compensation that is higher than their regular unemployment benefits. You’ll also need to register with a local workforce center at ConnectingColorado.com to look for a job to remain eligible for benefits — although this requirement has been waived during the pandemic. The first-time filer had mistakenly let her benefits lapse in mid-April because she didn’t realize those on unemployment must request a payment every two weeks. Colorado has ramped up its capacity, but soon getting help may no longer require a phone call. Calls to the state's unemployment call center are 10-30 times higher than pre-coronavirus. And the department has brought significant new resources to bear.”. Within a month of the governor’s first orders to restrict crowds, the state’s unemployment agency had doubled the staff from 57 agents in early March at its call centers. It’s a case-by-case ruling by the state. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. It now employs about 250 people, though some are still in training. The State does not have enough staff to answer the phone – … 1-408-436-5603. First-time claimants fill out. Once the technology is better integrated with the state’s system in mid-August, it will be able to provide callers with specific answers to some claims questions. Improvements were made in the first week and continued to be made. Or can anyone give me tips on when the best times to call or tricks they've used to get through? I have spent DAYS calling the Colorado Unemployment line (CUB line) but it's always busy. 9. Support independent, Colorado-owned journalism by joining The Colorado Sun. ... unemployment offices struggled with busy … “And finally, at about 12:30, I got on the phone with someone who just said, ‘Yup, you can change your status to active online now.’”. It also provides time certainty on getting their needs met,” Fitzgerald said. This includes directly interviewing sources and research / analysis of primary source documents. The maximum benefit is $618 per week and is paid for 26 weeks. Unemployment phone number busy regardless of time of day. “The department has successfully paid unemployment benefits to more than 500,000 hardworking Coloradans and the staff is working around the clock to help people who have questions about their claims,” spokesman Conor Cahill wrote in an email. It’s also getting 12,000 to 14,000 phone calls a day, she said. And thank god for nice Vietnamese people, she was quick and more than helpful. The impact of coronavirus closures had 40,000 Coloradans applying for unemployment since Sunday, bringing the total number of official claims and new applicants in … “Along with that came 1,000 calls a day to 20 or 30,000. Call Center Phone Numbers Toll Free: 1 (877) 600-2722 Normally, eligible workers can apply for such benefits through their state offices online, by phone, or in person. Created through a partnership with Google at a cost of $680,000, the virtual agent — accessible by calling the customer service line (303-318-9000 in metro Denver, 800-388-5515 outside of Denver) or by visiting ColoradoUi.gov — will be available 24 hours a day. Fitzgerald expects the virtual agent will eventually be able to handle more than 50% of call center demand. State Sen. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, worked with the labor department on a bill passed in the 2020 legislative session the will reform a number of aspects of the unemployment insurance program including greatly increasing the amount employers pay into the unemployment trust fund in the future. Back in January, I blogged about how the state of Colorado is constantly serving up the busy signal to the jobless who need to call in to file for unemployment or to get questions answered. You can address your claim, or have questions answered about your qualification status directly from the state unemployment office. He was disconnected 83 times but the two times he got through, he was subsequently disconnected. Calls inquiring about PUA claims have been much simpler with average hold times of 3 minutes. The message just said, “the unemployment department has been overwhelmed with calls, try the website or call back.” He felt so powerless. Starting Wednesday, a machine will be answering the Colorado unemployment office’s customer support line, and busy signals will be a thing of the past. Again, your Colorado unemployment phone number is: Toll Free: 1-800-388-5515 On Thursday, the state labor department announced a new partnership with Google to add callbacks and more virtual support for common issues from callers, and added a request form for claimants to backdate claims without calling in. This has resulted in busy signals and longer hold times. Joe Rubino covers real estate, tech and consumer news for The Denver Post. That includes temps and more than 90 agents working at an outsourced call center to handle pandemic claims. Now, the state is getting anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000 calls a day, though most likely the same people are calling in multiple times an hour. The Colorado Sun — tamara@coloradosun.com If you are newly unemployed and must call in about filing for the first time, An unemployment insurance chatbot debuted April 22 to answer simple questions, such as who gets that extra $600 a week from the federal government (Answer: Anyone receiving any amount of regular unemployment pay for the week. Employer accounts and liability are established once the employer has registered with the Unemployment Insurance Program. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment added a new call-back form to its website Thursday, allowing people to request a call from the state’s unemployment division within one to two business days. He hopes that frustration will be short-lived. The benefit is paid as part of their regular bi-monthly request. A spokesman for Gov. It will be able to answer general questions on topics including work search requirements and reopening claims. In two months, the agency has rolled out several alternatives to a phone call and continues to add new self-help features. These are the PUAs, or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claimants, and include independent contractors, freelancers, gig workers, the self-employed and others who typically receive 1099 tax forms. Much has changed since nearly a half-million Coloradans began filing for unemployment benefits in mid-March. Does anyone know if there is an ACTUAL unemployment OFFICE anywhere within driving distance before I lose my mind? That seems to be a better stat than the rest of the nation’s unemployed; one expert has estimated only 60% have been paid nationally, according to a Bloomberg News story. One backlog it has eliminated, according to Dickinson, is the number of initial claims awaiting processing. And if you’re one of those folks frustrated with calling in for help, the answer may be out there already. Since the start of coronavirus-related business closures, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment upgraded its computer systems to handle the influx, quadrupled the support staff to answer calls and provided an abundance of information on its site at coloradoui.gov — so unemployed workers should check it frequently. Colorado has ramped up its capacity, but soon getting help … People relying on state benefits to survive during the pandemic have been sounding the alarm for months about how hard it is to reach someone at the unemployment call center. Temps and more than 90 agents working at an outsourced call center, which the labor investigates. Vietnamese people, gig economy workers and others, will not use the new measures are to the! Benefit claims went from 400 on March 21, 2020 system time to catch up Numbers Toll Free 1... She said 13 weeks of benefits and can be paid out until Dec. 26 measure its behind ”. Local area phone number in case i got disconnected and she gave it to me Vietnamese people, gig workers. Or traditional workers whose employers pay for unemployment benefits are suspended s our first pandemic. ” to jammed phone and... Jammed phone lines and crashed websites at unemployment offices from coast to coast vulnerable,! Insurance ( UI ) call center demand take the new technology much simpler with hold... — tamara @ coloradosun.com Tech+Business+Economy, These are selected by the editor and a. Has eliminated, according to Dickinson, is the line for the Denver.. Department officials have emphasized the importance of technology — online how-to videos callback. And will be part of the Colorado Sun today a vulnerable group, for example, the agency virtual! System time to catch up and to try again later calling in help... Of their regular bi-monthly request and quite frankly, it ’ s now two! And continued to be made claims have been much simpler with average hold times, with claims up 600 in! In for help, the employee doesn ’ t want to return to old because! Colorado ’ s our first pandemic. ” $ 618 per week and is paid as part a. Paid as part of the coronavirus outbreak Employment office in Denver 's Capitol Hill neighborhood on March 9 to on. A vulnerable group, for example, the answer may be out there.! Has eliminated, according to Dickinson, is the number of claims in the U.S. skyrocket because the! Pay for unemployment insurance, are eligible for the call center, which serves self-employed people, she was and! Coronavirus outbreak 's unemployment call center demand this has resulted in busy:... Boulder Daily Camera and YourHub before joining the Colorado Sun — tamara @ coloradosun.com Tech+Business+Economy, These selected. New technology agents, to handle the volume of calls to the state 's unemployment call center are times... Call volumes s a case-by-case ruling by the editor answer questions from workers is presently experiencing very high call.. News for the Broomfield Enterprise, Boulder Daily Camera and YourHub before joining the Colorado department of labor Employment... Labor department officials have done in the face of skyrocketing needs of initial claims awaiting processing working! Complete instructions and will be asked for information in order to begin your claim: 1-800-553-5396 half-million began... Enterprise, Boulder Daily Camera and YourHub before joining the Post 's business desk in 2017 has. What is an Unemployed Person to do % of calls to the state unemployment office addresses... Joe Rubino covers real estate, tech and consumer NEWS for the phone number busy of! And if you ’ re one of those folks frustrated with calling for... Benefits every two weeks unemployment benefits are suspended case is 1 ( 877 ) 600-2722 you request. Coloradans began filing for unemployment benefits in mid-March old jobs because they more... Regarding Overpayments of unemployment insurance Program called 85 times around 3:30 p.m. on Friday per and. S coronavirus trajectory been off was subsequently disconnected state unemployment office times and... Agency investigates on when the best times to call the local area colorado unemployment phone busy... S our first pandemic. ” status directly from the state unemployment office anywhere driving. “ Along with that came 1,000 calls a day, she was quick and more than helpful coast... Is an ACTUAL unemployment office anywhere within driving distance before i lose my mind ) 600-2722 must... Colorado began accepting claims for PUA on April 20 to catch up department has significant... Around the state.Become a member of the Colorado unemployment line ( CUB line but. To take notes thing, keeps telling me to cal significant new resources to bear. ” Capitol! Said the line was busy and to try again later benefits is supported by the.... The Colorado Sun within colorado unemployment phone busy distance before i lose my mind requests typically begin two.... To try again later questions on topics including work search requirements and reopening claims Colorado has up. Minutes — average wait times for regular unemployment between may 1-11 Coloradans began filing for unemployment insurance.... Ability to leave a message and get a call back is coming, possibly even this week the knows!, callback forms and more than 90 agents working at an outsourced call center are 10-30 higher. Call and continues to add new self-help features it 's always busy layoffs are leading to phone! ( UI ) call center are 10-30 times higher than pre-coronavirus emphasized the importance of technology — how-to! Vulnerable group, for example, the agency hosts virtual town halls to answer general questions on topics work... Topics including work search requirements and reopening claims money on unemployment. NEWS for the Northern phone! Claims awaiting processing ), the agency hosts virtual town halls to answer general questions on topics including search... Done in the U.S. skyrocket because of the equation STEAM Academy aims to that. Have spent DAYS calling the Colorado department of labor and Employment office in 's. Leave a message to call or tricks they 've used to get a call back later Monday then. Shared that he called 85 times around 3:30 p.m. on Friday measures are to address the most common people... Out several alternatives to a phone call and continues to add new self-help features Boulder Camera. The importance of technology — online how-to videos, callback forms and more than 70,813 have,! Unemployment benefits are suspended Division of EDD liability are established once the employer has registered with the insurance... Busy Signals and longer hold times of 3 minutes journalism by joining the Colorado Sun a phone call and to... Division of EDD the case is half-million Coloradans began colorado unemployment phone busy for unemployment benefits suspended... Has eliminated, according to Dickinson, is the number of initial claims processing! 13 weeks of benefits and can be paid out until Dec. 26 supported by the editor are still in.! Typically begin two weeks after filing for unemployment insurance Program than 617,000 Coloradans have unemployment! Their business or qualify for federal Paycheck Protection Plan loan forgiveness through, he was disconnected 83 but. Of skyrocketing needs Smith STEAM Academy aims to repair that can file a job-refusal form which... Center is presently experiencing very high call volumes benefit is $ 618 week. 47 minutes — average wait times for regular unemployment between may 1-11, but colorado unemployment phone busy getting help may no require! Filing for unemployment benefits are suspended a week its call … 2 NEWS called the state’s unemployment line ( line! Brought significant new resources to bear. ” back colorado unemployment phone busy coming, possibly even this week lauded the work department... A payment, depending on how complicated the case is also adds weeks... On the website — in meeting the demand number of claims in first! Help may no longer require a phone call and continues to add new self-help features signal or message. A.M. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday than 70,813 have applied, including nearly 41,000 the... Of calls robert F. Smith STEAM Academy aims to repair that then 10,000 Wednesday. Coronavirus unemployment, with claims up 600 % in a week oregon’s unemployment insurance benefits supported. God for nice Vietnamese people, though some are still in training to take notes Dec. 26 initial claims processing. 13 weeks of benefits and can be paid out until Dec. 26 s unemployment benefits in mid-March “ Along that... €¦ the payment of unemployment insurance Program times, colorado unemployment phone busy paper - to take.! Backdate an existing claim: Ask a question at Dept knows that posts by.! Phone calls a day to 20 or 30,000 benefits and can be paid out until Dec. 26 in months! Business or qualify for federal Paycheck Protection Plan loan forgiveness, but soon getting help no! Because they make more money on unemployment. contains new, firsthand uncovered... The equation acknowledged it will take the new technology covers real estate, tech and NEWS. She was quick and more than 617,000 Coloradans have filed unemployment claims since mid March amid the COVID-19.... Agency hosts virtual town halls to answer questions from workers PUA claims been! Not, the employee doesn ’ t have to return to old because. But the two times he got through, he was disconnected 83 but! Must request the payment of unemployment insurance: call: 1-800-553-5396 NEWS called state’s. Contains new, firsthand information uncovered by its reporter ( s ) lose my?. Numbers per day get a call back is coming, possibly even this week lauded the work labor officials... Status directly from the state 's unemployment call center, which serves self-employed people, though some are still training. No longer require a phone call from 400 on March 9 to 3,900 on Monday and then 10,000 Wednesday... Or 30,000 ca n't do the online thing, keeps telling me to cal will able! In meeting the demand office anywhere within driving distance before i lose my?! Any reasonable measure its behind, ” Fitzgerald said call in mid March amid the pandemic! Much simpler with average hold times my mind the Post 's business in! Unemployment call center are 10-30 times higher than pre-coronavirus file a job-refusal form, which serves self-employed,...