A new Colorado program is offering incentives to get people back to work. Those collecting unemployment benefits can earn up to $1,600 for returning to work full time.
The Colorado Jumpstart program was created by an executive order made by Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday. To qualify, unemployment claimants must return to work between May 16 and May 29 to receive up to $1,600, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, or CDLE, website. Claimants who return to work between May 30 and June 26 are also eligible for the program, and can be compensated up to $1,200. Both groups must maintain employment for at least eight weeks to qualify.
The Jumpstart program is meant to support understaffed businesses as COVID-19 restrictions ease. The Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce heard from several business members, especially in the restaurant and hospitality sector, that hiring enough employees has been a challenge, according to Scott Cook, CEO for the Chamber.
“We think this is going to be a big step forward in helping those employees return to work,” Cook said. “And for the businesses, it's going to be great because many of them are understaffed, and so if they're going to return to normal, they're going to need full staff.”
According to the CDLE, other qualifiers for the Jumpstart incentive are that individuals receive a minimum weekly benefit amount of $25 in regular state unemployment benefits or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) between March 28 and May 16. Claimants will receive the first half of their incentive after four weeks of employment, collecting the second half after eight weeks.
According to a CDLE fact sheet on the program, claimants will opt into the program through their MyUI+ account. Starting this Sunday on May 22, claimants can begin opting into the Jumpstart program, according to the CDLE website.