In the state of Colorado, unemployment benefits are intended to provide temporary economic relief to unemployed residents who are actively seeking employment. For this reason, unemployment benefits are typically dispersed during a period of 26 weeks.
However, in some cases, federal unemployment extensions may be made available to help individuals who still have not found employment after their original benefits period has ended. Unemployment benefits extension programs are intended to provide extra weeks of benefits to beneficiaries who are in need of additional aid.
Unemployment extensions are usually only available during specific periods of time, decided by the state of Colorado. Beneficiaries wanting to know how to get an unemployment extension should know that they will have to file a new application proving their eligibility for an unemployment compensation extension.
- Learn About Requesting an Unemployment Benefits Extension in Colorado
- How to Get an Unemployment Extension in Colorado
Colorado Unemployment Resources
Learn About Requesting an Unemployment Benefits Extension in Colorado
In many states, including Colorado, unemployment benefit extensions are not currently available but have the potential to become available in instances of peak unemployment rates. When unemployment rates reach the required quota, unemployment compensation extensions will be made available to unemployed residents of Colorado.
One form of federal unemployment extension that typically becomes available at such a time is the Extended Benefits program, also known as EB.
In order to be eligible to receive Extended Benefits, an applicant must have already exhausted their original benefits claim and are in need of an unemployment extension. In some cases, applicants who are found to be eligible for unemployment compensation extension can receive up to 50 percent more than their initial benefit entitlement.
How to Get an Unemployment Extension
For those wondering, “How can I extend unemployment benefits?” it is vital to understand the qualifications that are associated with receiving an unemployment extension in Colorado. Federal unemployment extensions are currently unavailable in the state of Colorado and will only be made available if the state reaches peak levels of unemployment or if the Senate calls for an extension.
At times, the federal or state governments establish an unemployment benefits extension program. For instance, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program temporarily gave qualified workers additional weeks of unemployment payment in 2008. And in 2020, the federal government initiated the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program.
Still, it is important to ensure that you do qualify for a federal unemployment extension when one is made available. The qualifications associated with unemployment benefit extensions are similar to those needed for your initial unemployment claim.
In order to qualify for an unemployment compensation extension an applicant must:
- Have an active unemployment insurance claim that ended on or after the first payable week of Extended Benefits.
- Have been terminated from a job due to no fault of their own.
- Be willing to seek and accept any suitable job. In the state of Colorado, a suitable job is defined as any employment, which an applicant has experience or training in and can both physically and mentally perform.
- Actively seek work and report a required number of work searches for each week claimed unless deferred.
- Be registered and create an online resume in the Colorado Labor Exchange system within seven days of filing their initial claim
Just as with an initial unemployment benefits claim, beneficiaries must maintain eligibility while applying for and receiving federal unemployment extension aid. The state of Colorado requires that applicants continue to submit biweekly claims either online or over the phone.
Applicants must also continue to keep a record of all submitted applications in order to prove their active job-search efforts. All records should include the name, address, phone number and email of the business applied to. Failure to submit bi-weekly claims or provide a job search record could result in the termination of your unemployment benefits extension.
Last Updated: February 28, 2023