OK, it is now later. Here are some observations from my experience applying for Colorado's unemployment insurance program on Wednesday. Thread: https://twitter.com/RubinoJC/status/1253387024259674112

Filling out the application was pretty straightforward. It took me about 20 minutes with breaks to take notes. But I’ve been reading and writing about the program for weeks on end and have worked for the same employer for the last 5 years. I had very few hoops to jump through.

I did not need my W2 even though I had it handy. When prompted for income, all I did was enter what I make an hour. To demonstrate lost income all I did was type in that I am working "0" hours this week when I was working "40" hours a week before now.

The onus is on the state to follow up and verify information in these claims. I listed the Denver Post's main switchboard as my employer contact. Workers in every department at the paper could be serving a furlough during any given week so I figure start at the top of the funnel.

When filling out the application, hitting “save and finish later” on each page -- a step recommended by the state early on when a flood of coronavirus related claims were bogging down and crashing the system -- is a laborious process.

You have to select three security questions each time and then log back in entirely to get to the page you were last on. I feel for people who had to fight through that when the system was unreliable and their claims were still not getting through.

The application and confirmation email you get after you're done have outdated information in them.

The application mentions job search requirements that have been waived since March 20. (You do still have to register for job matching opportunities with your county workforce center or through http://ConnectingColorado.com  but you don’t have to go out and actively interview.)

The confirmation email mentioned a waiting week for benefits that also was waived by Gov. Jared Polis in an order on March 20. Accurate information is available on the @ColoradoLabor UI webpage but it's confusing when contradictory info comes in the confirmation email.

I also signed up with Connecting Colorado on Wednesday. My account's top alert today read: “Currently there are no job matches based on your job search criteria. Consider editing your search criteria.” I am choosing not to interpret that as commentary on the local news industry.

I have yet to activate my MyUI account -- my portal for overseeing my benefits and requestions payments -- because I am waiting on my PIN. CDLE has said applicants should receive PINs 3 to 4 days before their first payment request date.

Like all my coworkers who applied this week, my first payment request date is May 3. One of them received their PIN the day after applying while another hadn’t received his 5 days after applying. So it's hardly consistent.

I will update this thread as I go through the process. For now, I wait for a PIN. Enjoy a nice, safe, socially distant weekend, peeps.