How many hours can you work and still collect unemployment

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Collecting Benefits While Working Part Time

You may be eligible to collect partial benefits if you are working fewer than 32 hours per week. However, you must continue to look for work and meet your eligibility requirements. When you work, we can pay part of your weekly benefits, but you must have earned less than the weekly benefit amount. The law states that you can earn up to 50 percent of your weekly benefit amount and still be paid your full benefit payment. After that, we must reduce your benefit payment by one dollar for each dollar you earn.

You will need to report your hours worked and gross earnings (pay before any withholdings, e.g., taxes or child support) information for each week when you request payment, so be sure to keep track of all of your hours and earnings for each week. Basically, instead of waiting until you are paid, we require that you report the time and gross earnings as it occurs (when you request payment). You may use the earnings log in the back of this guide to help you keep track. Additionally, you must report when you no longer work for an employer.

Contact the Customer Service Center at 303-318-9000 or 1-800-388-5515 (outside Denver-metro area) to report that you stopped working.

Download the Fact Sheet

• Example
• Self Employment
• Commission Earnings

Example

Calculation Assumptions:
Your weekly benefit amount = $100
50% of $100 = $50

Week 1
You earn $20. Because this is less than $50, you will receive your full benefit payment of $100.

Week 2
You earn $60. Because you earned $10 more than 50% of your weekly benefit amount ($50), you will receive $90 in benefit payments ($100 - $10 = $90).

Week 3
You earn $110. Because this is equal or greater to your weekly benefit amount, you will receive $0 in benefit payments.

Self Employment

Self employment is considered work. You will need to report your hours worked and profits or gross earnings for the hours worked each week when you request payment, so be sure to keep track of all of your hours and earnings. You must also maintain your eligibility by meeting all the requirements in order to be paid benefits.

Commission Earnings

Commissions are considered earnings. You will need to report your hours worked and estimate your commissions earned for each week you request payment, so be sure to keep track of all your hours and earned commissions. Basically, instead of waiting until you are paid, we require that you report the estimated commissions as they are earned (when you request payment). You must also maintain your eligibility by meeting all the requirements in order to be paid benefits.

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Colorado Division of Unemployment Insurance | 303-318-9000 | Contact Us