The incessant attacks on Colorado’s unemployment system likely by local and international fraudsters hasn’t slowed and state labor officials have had it. The state Department of Labor and Employment joined forces with the Attorney General’s Office on Thursday to fight the fraudulent claims that overwhelmed the state last year, caused months-long delays for many on […]
unemployment
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Investing in transportation is the key to Colorado’s COVID economic recovery
As of December 2020, Colorado had the fourth-highest unemployment level in the nation, with only Hawaii, Nevada and California having a worse rate. This is a far cry from early in 2020 when the state had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Clearly COVID-19 has been the main culprit, but our economy […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, Economy, Housing, News
In Colorado’s uneven coronavirus economic recovery, some thrive while others can’t make ends meet
By the time 2020 ended, the U.S. stock market was at an all-time high, Colorado’s housing market experienced double-digit gains, credit scores were on the rise and overall personal income had inched up again, up 0.6% in December from November. The state’s outlook is relatively positive for 2021. Lost jobs are expected to return. The […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News
Coronavirus crushed Colorado’s economy. But working women paid the highest price.
Louise Carr, 50 and divorced, lost her job as a baker and waitress early on in the pandemic when the Castle Rock cafe where she worked closed its doors. Now she’s vying with 20-somethings for work in a juice bar, and she’s losing. Laura Charlton, 51, watched her self-made massage therapy business in Elizabeth dwindle […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, News
What’s Working: Colorado’s unemployment system is … working? Some readers say “yes.”
Getting unemployment pay in Colorado was not problem-free this week. But after two months with no benefits for thousands, this week brought joy as money finally made it to bank accounts — and offered hope to others still waiting. I’m talking about Kevin Saunders, the fellow from Parker who was crushed after reopening his claim […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, News
135,000 unemployed Coloradans get benefits after months of waiting. But thousands of others face glitches and denials.
The dizzying roller coaster ride for some of Colorado’s unemployed has gone something like this: No money since Dec. 26 when federal benefits ended, hopeful for the February restart, getting stuck, calling for help, placed on hold, disconnected, retrying, reopening their claim on Saturday, glitches, then denied again. “Will this ever end?” emailed Bobbie Barr, […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, News
What’s Working: Lessons learned and tips for Coloradans as federal unemployment benefits start (hopefully) Saturday
By the time this column publishes on Saturday, we’ll know whether Colorado’s unemployment system was programmed properly to start paying people who’ve been without a benefit check since 2020. The system, which the state took offline Friday evening, was scheduled to return at 3 a.m. I’m sure that more than a handful of the 289,000 […]
Posted inCartoons, Opinion
Jim Morrissey: The unemployment benefit shell game
More cartoons from The Colorado Sun.
Posted inBusiness, Economy, News
After eight weeks of waiting, nearly 300,000 Coloradans can reopen their unemployment accounts Saturday
Thousands of out-of-work Coloradans who’ve been waiting for federal benefits to restart can reopen their unemployment accounts on Saturday — about eight weeks after the last federal relief plan was approved by lawmakers. Officials from the Colorado Department of Employment and Labor said the reopening comes two days sooner than expected. And they’ve already notified […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, News
What’s Working: As exhausted Coloradans on unemployment wait for benefits, the next federal plan must pass soon to avoid delays
Not to be a drag here, but we’re down to one month before the existing federal coronavirus relief package providing extra unemployment benefits is set to end. The Continued Assistance Act, passed by federal lawmakers on Dec. 27, provided 11 weeks of extended unemployment benefits plus a bonus $300 per week until March 14 (or […]