Drawing Unemployment After Relocating to Colorado
Colorado, like all other states, has a standard unemployment benefits program. Only people who worked in and lost a job in Colorado can collect unemployment benefit payments from the state. If you move to Colorado but need to draw unemployment benefits, you can still do so, however.
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Unemployment Benefits Eligibility
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Relocating to Colorado does not automatically make you eligible to draw unemployment benefits. While moving does not change your eligibility to collect benefits, you must meet basic eligibility requirements to collect benefits. The eligibility requirements vary slightly from state to state, but you generally must lose a job, not quit, and the reason for the job loss cannot be due to anything that you did. Eligibility requirements are based on the state where you worked, not where you currently live.
If You Haven’t Filed for Benefits Yet
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When you lose your job, it is important to file for benefits immediately, because your unemployment claim cannot be backdated. However, if you have waited to file your unemployment claim until you get to Colorado you can still file for benefits. Since you are now in Colorado, you should file your claim through the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The number to call is 800-388-5515; you must file by phone if you worked in another state. The Colorado unemployment agency will work with the state you worked in to process your claim.
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If You Are Already Collecting Benefits
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When you move to Colorado while collecting unemployment benefits, you do not experience a lapse in benefits. In fact, all you have to do is update the unemployment office that sends your claim forms and checks with your new address. If you have a claim form, you can simply update your address on it. Otherwise, you should call the office to give the address update. Look for the phone number in your unemployment guide handbook.
Paying State
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Regardless of where you moved from, if you were already collecting unemployment benefits your claim does not change state offices. The state where you were working before losing your job remains the paying state. This applies even if you wait to file your claim until you get to Colorado. In that instance, Colorado works with the paying state to complete you claim and your benefit payments are disbursed by the paying state. This means that you must meet the requirements of the paying state and not Colorado for the duration of your unemployment claim.
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