State offices will be closed Tuesday, November 5

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) offices will be closed on Election Day, Nov. 5, but claimants will still be able to go online to certify work searches and access a wide variety of helpful resources.

Workers can certify their job searches using the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM). MiWAM is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even when UIA offices are closed. Log in at Michigan.gov/UIA.

However, certifying by calling the Michigan Automated Voice Interactive Network (MARVIN) will not be possible on Election Day. Claimants scheduled to certify by phone on Tuesday can instead certify on Thursday or Friday next week. Claimants must report every two weeks their job status and whether they meet work eligibility requirements in order to collect unemployment benefits.

Claimants should keep in mind that with the one-day closure of UIA offices there may be a slight delay in having their benefits deposited into bank accounts or added to U.S. Bank debit cards.

The UIA’s 12 Local Offices, Customer Service hotline at 1-866-500-0017, and the Office of Employer Ombudsman phone line at 1-855-484-2636, Option 4, will be available again to serve Michigan residents beginning Wednesday, Nov. 6.

Innovative UIA resources for workers

Workers can access on any day the many online resources launched as part of a broad UIA transformation led by Director Julia Dale. Popular innovations include:  

• The UIA Claimant Roadmap, a six-step guide to applying for and understanding benefits. The roadmap is an easy-to-follow, user-friendly resource that can be found at Michigan.gov/UIAClaimantRoadmap.
• Online Coaching Sessions, which are web-based group sessions led by UIA staff. The First-time Filer Coaching Session explains the steps needed to complete an accurate application for benefits. The Understanding Your Monetary Determination Letter coaching session walks workers through correspondence that explains whether benefits have been approved or denied.
• More choices to speak with an agent. Go to Michigang.gov/UIA to schedule a phone, virtual, or in-person appointment at one of 12 Local Offices up to 14 days in advance.
• The UIA Community Connect program to provide hands-on help for workers navigating the unemployment insurance application process. Staff also connect workers and employers to UIA’s outreach and education resources.
• Plans for a new computer system, called MiUI, to replace the decade-old MiWAM that workers use to file for benefits. MiUI will speed claim filing, provide a user-friendly interface, and add robust anti-fraud processes.
• Answers to frequently asked questions, or access resources and toolkits, at Michigan.gov/UIA, which is optimized for reading on mobile phones or tablets. You can also browse UIA’s library of helpful instructional videos on YouTube.
• The UIA Economic Dashboard. Data provides a rich understanding of the impacts of unemployment across industries, occupations, and communities, and provides insights into which sectors are experiencing layoffs, claimant demographics, and the regions most affected. You can take a dep dive into the data at Michigan.gov/UIAEconomicDashboard.

Director prioritizes agency modernization

Appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in October 2021, Director Dale is the agency's 11th director in as many years. Under her leadership, the agency’s goal is to be a national model for fast, fair, and fraud-free service. Among the changes Director Dale has implemented:  

• Renovations at four UIA Local Offices to create an improved user experience and make security upgrades. Projects have been completed in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Saginaw, and Sterling Heights. The Detroit office will also be renovated.
• Six additional advocates to expand the Advocacy Program, which provides free legal aid to workers and employers with appeals of UIA redeterminations.
• The UIA Modernization Workgroup, a coalition of thought leaders from the labor, business, and jobless advocate communities who provide insight about significant improvements in how the agency can better serve Michigan workers and employers.
• The Employer Help Center, a plain language guide answers employers’ questions on unemployment tax and claim issues and UIA programs. The innovative Help Center can be found at Michigan.gov/UIAEmployerHelpCenter.
• A Legal and Compliance Bureau to leverage collaborative anti-fraud practices to pursue bad actors who steal taxpayer money. 
• Nearly 80 limited term employees hired in the Fraud and Investigations Division.
• Mandatory new ethics and security clearance policies for employees and contractors.
• Strong partnerships with the Michigan Department of Attorney General, and local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to fight fraud. Since March 2020, 166 criminals have been charged with unemployment fraud, 125 have been convicted, and 106 sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution.
• Top scores of 100 percent for the third year in a row from the USDOL for employer audits in 2020-22, meeting the reasonable assurance of quality benchmark.
• Staff and resource reassignments to prioritize case backlogs.
• A growing UI Trust Fund, which has more than $2.7 billion. Weekly benefits are paid to workers from the Trust Fund, which is supported by taxes on employers.
• Overpayment collections have been halted on claims filed since March 1, 2020, to address pending protests and appeals.

Need help or have questions about a claim?

Meet with an agent: Schedule an in-person, phone, or virtual meeting at Michigan.gov/UIA.

Chat with an agent through MiWAM: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Call Customer Service: 1-866-500-0017, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Ask Ava: Our chatbot at Michigan.gov/UIA can answer many questions.

Find answers: FAQs, videos, toolkits, and other resources at Michigan.gov/UIA.

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