Layoffs and forced career changes are increasingly a part of modern lifestyles.  Careers become obsolete or financially incapable of providing adequate support; jobs are exported to developing nations; and other factors cause major lifestyle changes.  A typical adult will experience 9 or so career/profession/workstyle changes in a lifetime.

            These sudden unexpected terminations/layoffs/business failures can be financially and psychologically very difficult to cope with, especially when they are not being anticipated.  The federal government, state governments, and community organizations provide special transitional assistance and support structures for helping people in transition in dealing with these overwhelming events.

Legal advice: Collecting unemployment

QUESTION:
What are the qualifications for collecting unemployment in Colorado?

ANSWER:
In Colorado, to collect unemployment benefits, you must be partially or fully unemployed, registered for work at an unemployment or job service office, make a claim for benefits, be able and available to work, and be actively searching for work. Unemployment benefits typically do not equal what you were previously making-which is an incentive for you to look for work again quickly.

You may be eligible for unemployment if you were fired for reasons not related to your job, unable to do the job, left a job due to illness and were not eligible for rehire, or were laid-off. You have a right to appeal any decision concerning your eligibility. You must report your job search efforts while receiving benefits and you must be prepared to provide names of companies and people you've applied to work for and interviewed with.

You also must report all temporary or part-time work and wages earned. In Colorado you may receive up to 26 weeks of benefits. For more information, call the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment at (303) 318-9000 in Denver, or (800) 388-5515 throughout the state.

q       EDWAA (Economic Dislocation and Worker Adjustment Assistance Act Program) for dislocated workers who are laid-off due to downsizing or business failure or bankruptsy or relocation.   

http://www.9news.com/money/job_tool_kit/taxes.htm = Tax and Financial Issues Related to Loss of Employment

q       Special benefits when workers are dislocated as a result of foreign competions under the TAA (Trade Adjustment Assistance Act) when job dislocation is the result of foreign competitions or NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) when job loss is due to import competition from Mexico or Canada.  In particular, this applies to manufacturing jobs.  During the first 2 ½ years of the Bush administration, over 10% of manufacturing jobs in the U.S. have been lost.

q       Retraining & Education Benefits  

http://www.9news.com/storyfull-extra.asp?id=11440 = Over $7 million dollars in retraining available at local workforce centers = The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment has received over $3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Labor to provide retraining and enhanced services to individuals who have lost their jobs as a result of the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks on America. more >

q       Emergency & Transitional Community Benefits

Based on EDWAA (Economic Dislocation and Worker Adjustment Assistance Act Program), created by Congress for workers being laidoff by plant closing or mass layoff, includes 5 day workshop, skills assessment, career explorations, resume writing, interviewing skills, access to a resource library, assistance in job searching, and possible tuition assistance for retraining.  To be eligible,

§         a person must be laid off (with written notification) due to plant closure of mass layoff and unlikely to return to the previous occupation or have lost employment due to a plant closure or substantial lay-off, or

§         is unemployed through no personal fault and is eligible for unemployment insurance compensation or has exhausted unemployment insurance compensation benefits and is unlikely to return to previous profession.

§         have been involuntarily unemployed for 15 weeks or longer and unlikely to return to the previous occupation, or

§         has been self-employed (incl. Farmers & ranchers) and in the process of losing business or declaring bankruptcy because of general economic conditions in the community.

The dislocated worker program is funded by the Department of Labor Job Training Partnership Act.

            Special programs for dislocated workers are funded under Title III of the Job Training Parnership act (EDWAA = Economic Dislocation and Worker Adjustment Assistance Act).  These funds are coordinated by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CSLE) and are provided through Regional Reemployment Centers and Substate Area Job Training Offices.

            Additional assistance may also be available to workers dislocated as a result of foreign competitions under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act (TAA) or under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  

TAA -  Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is available to workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a result of increased imports.

Layoff Assistance  http://www.coworkforce.com/EMP/Layoffassistance.asp/

NATIONAL EMERGENCY GRANT  To Serve Workers Laid Off Due to the 9/11 Tragedy    The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment has received a National Emergency Grant for 7.5 million dollars.  This grant is to provide assistance to workers who have lost their jobs due to the 9/11/01 tragedy.  In Colorado those affected industries are  Airlines, Tourism, Aviation,  Financial Services, Telecommunications, and High Technology companies.  These funds are available to assist affected workers obtain employment and can provide for career counseling, testing, resume writing assistance and other job search related services.  Services can also include training when needed.
Employers in the above industries who have laid off employees due to a downturn in business resulting from 9/11, may contact Terry Bohannon at (303) 318-8840 or terry.bohannon@state.co.us to be included on a list of affected employers.  This list is provided to Work Force Centers so that staff can provide services to employees laid off from these firms.
Workers who have lost employment in the above industries as a result of 9/11 should contact their local Work Force Center to obtain services. A list of all Colorado Work Force Centers can be found at http://www.coworkforce.com/EMP/WFCs.asp

Colorado Re-employment Service Centers