UIA offices closed on Juneteenth, but online resources are available

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) offices will be closed Friday, June 19, in recognition of Juneteenth, but anyone who receives jobless benefits can still go online to certify for benefits, record work searches, access helpful resources, schedule appointments, or use UIA's chatbot to find answers about unemployment.

UIA's public website at Michigan.gov/UIA and the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even on state and federal holidays. You can use MiWAM to file a claim - following the steps outlined in the UIA Claimant Roadmap - or complete other tasks such as certifying for benefits. Log into MiWAM at Michigan.gov/UIA.

The quickest and most accurate way to certify for benefits and record your work searches is by using your MiWAM account.

Five things to know about the holiday closure

1. MARVIN, the Michigan Automated Voice Interactive Network that can be used to certify for benefits and log work searches, will not be available when UIA offices are closed on the holiday. MARVIN will be available again on Monday, June 22; users should follow their normal reporting schedule.
2. To collect benefits, workers must report their job status and whether they meet work eligibility requirements every two weeks.
3. With the holiday closure, there may be a delay in unemployment benefits being deposited into bank accounts or added to U.S. Bank debit cards.
4. An AI-powered chatbot at Michigan.gov/UIA is available 24 hours a day on either a desktop or mobile device for quick and accurate answers to general unemployment questions.
5. 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 beginning Monday, June 22, to serve Michigan workers and employers.

Changes to unemployment law coming in July

New changes to Michigan's unemployment insurance law are coming in July that will alter how unemployed workers qualify for benefits, can appeal cases, or apply for relief from returning benefits improperly collected. Here are five significant changes you should know about:

Beginning July 17:

• Victims of domestic violence who leave their jobs would not be excluded from receiving benefits, providing them with financial stability.
• Some appeal cases can be combined into one hearing before a judge.
• People who must pay back improperly collected benefits can apply for up to four financial hardship waivers in a year.

Beginning the week of July 19:

• Unemployed workers must report at least three work search activities each week, up from one currently, when they certify to continue receiving benefits.
• Employers participating in the Work Share program can reduce employee hours between 10 percent and 60 percent (it's currently 15 percent to 45 percent). Employees can qualify for reduced unemployment benefits to make up some of their lost wages.

These changes, signed into law after passage of bipartisan legislation in December 2024, are detailed on a new webpage - Michigan.gov/UIALawChanges - that explains what unemployed workers and employers need to know about the updates to the law.

Helpful resources for workers and employers

UIA's many helpful online resources for navigating the unemployment landscape are part of the agency's commitment to being a national model for fast, fair, and fraud-free service:

• The UIA Claimant Roadmap, a six-step, user-friendly guide to applying for and understanding benefits. Access the roadmap at Michigan.gov/UIAClaimantRoadmap.
• Online Coaching Sessions, which are web-based group sessions led by UIA staff on topics such as filing a first-time claim, understanding a Monetary Determination letter, the protest and appeals process, and seeking work and registration requirements. The First-time Filer Coaching Session is also available in Spanish.
• Language Assistance Services provide free support in Spanish, Arabic, Albanian, Bengali, and Chinese to increase understanding of the services and information UIA provides.
• The Advocacy Program, which provides free legal help for unemployed workers and employers who appeal UIA redeterminations.
• Phone, virtual, or in-person appointments that can be scheduled up to 14 days in advance at Michigan.gov/UIA.
• Answers to frequently asked questions, toolkits, detailed information, and other resources for workers and employers can be found at Michigan.gov/UIA. Helpful instructional and informational videos are posted on YouTube.
• MiUI University, to learn more about UIA's new, modern MiUI user platform. MiUI will be easy to use, speed claims processing, and build on the agency's aggressive anti-fraud tactics. It also will include plain language forms and correspondence for easier understanding of next steps.
• A comprehensive list of resources for federal workers who have been laid off or terminated at Michigan.gov/FederalWorkerHelp.
• Transparent UIA Dashboards. Interactive tools provide a deep dive into underlying data and trends in unemployment insurance in Michigan as well as core metrics that measure UIA's success.
• 2025 Annual Report. Data-driven insights into UIA's initiatives to improve the unemployment experience for workers and employers across Michigan.

Need help or have questions about a claim?

Ask online: UIA's chatbot at Michigan.gov/UIA can answer many questions.

Search online: FAQs, videos, toolkits, and other resources at Michigan.gov/UIA.

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

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

Talk with us: 1-866-500-0017, Monday through Friday. TTY service: 1-866-366-0004.