Unemployed Coloradans Offered Up To $1,600 In Jumpstart Program

Unemployed Coloradans can receive up to $1,600 to support their transition to full-time work, Gov. Jared Polis announced Wednesday.

The governor signed an executive order that created a new monetary incentive program — Colorado Jumpstart, which aims to boost the economy.

“Powering the comeback means supporting Coloradans getting back to work and our businesses as they expand,” Polis said in a statement. “We know that getting back to work doesn’t mean all the financial challenges Coloradans are facing just disappear, and we want to ensure that as more people are returning to the workforce, we are setting them up for success.”

To be eligible for an incentive, Colorado’s unemployed workers must have received at least one week of unemployment benefits of $25 or more between March 28 and May 16, and have verified their identities via ID.me. A full list of eligibility requirements is posted on ColoradoUI.gov.

Eligible claimants who return to work full time in May will receive a Colorado Jumpstart incentive of $1,600, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment said. Those who return to work full time in June will receive an incentive of $1,200.

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“More than a year after this pandemic swept through Colorado, we know that many Coloradans are not completely back on their feet just yet. That’s why we are taking this important step to provide support to those who need it most as they transition back into the workforce,” said Joe Barela, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment executive director, in a statement.

“This won’t just help Coloradans, it’s going to help businesses to have a productive workforce, ready to power our economy and comeback.”

Newly employed workers must maintain full time employment for at least eight weeks to receive the full incentive, the agency said. The payments are expected to be issued in July and August, and will be distributed in two installments. Claimants will become eligible for the first half of the incentive after around four weeks of full time employment, and will become eligible for the remaining half after around eight weeks.

Claimants who are currently receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits, workshare claimants and those who are out of state are not eligible for the incentive program, the agency said.

>> Coloradans can view the Jumpstart fact sheet here.