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How To Apply For Unemployment in Michigan
When you lose your job, it’s important that you quickly get back on your feet.
As you start your search for new employment, you have the possibility of applying for and getting unemployment benefits in Michigan helping you navigate the uncertain times in your life.
The state of Michigan uses a strict formula to determine how much unemployment benefits a person can get based on the person’s recent salary.
To be eligible for unemployment in Michigan, you must first be unemployed and actively looking for full-time work.
In essence, you must be able to work, available for work, and actively seeking a job when getting unemployment benefits.
In addition to that, you must register yourself for work at MITalent.org and visit Michigan Works! Agency service center for a job.
How To Qualify For Unemployment In Michigan
To qualify for unemployment, you must meet the eligibility requirements.
Reasons For Unemployment
When you file for unemployment, the unemployment insurance agency will look at the reason why you have lost your job.
For example, if you lost your job as a result of your misconduct, the state will not provide you with unemployment benefits.
Also, if you voluntarily leave your job, you will not get unemployment benefits unless you left due to your employer.
Work Availability
In addition to looking at the reason why you have lost your job, the Michigan Unemployment Agency will also assess your availability or work.
You must be physically capable of working on a job to qualify for unemployment benefit claims.
Otherwise, you may not be eligible.
Job Search Requirements
Another important factor that will be considered is that you must register yourself with the Michigan Talen Bank two to three business days before filing your benefits claim.
Filing An Unemployment Insurance Claim In Michigan
Now that you know what are the qualification requirements, let’s see how you can actually apply for unemployment insurance in Michigan.
There are essentially two ways you can apply: online or by phone.
Online Application
The easiest way to apply for unemployment benefits is to apply online by using the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) at Michigan.gov.
The first step is for you to create an account on MiWam and then follow the step-by-step instructions for the MiWam Toolkit for Claimants.
Phone Application
Another way you can apply is by filing your application over the phone at 1-866-500-0017.
For those who have hearing impairments, you can call 1-866-366-0004.
If you are applying over the phone, keep in mind that you call on your assigned day and time.
The time schedule for filing phone claims is based on the last two digits of your Social Security number.
For those who have their SSN ending in 50, you’ll need to call on Tuesday afternoon.
Those who are unable to call on their appointed day and time can dial the toll-free number anytime between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday or Friday of the same week.
Documents Needed
To make sure you have all the information at hand when applying online or by phone, you’ll need to make sure that you have the following documents and information in your possession:
- Your Social Security number
- Your Birth certificate
- Your Physical address
- Your Driver’s license or state identification number
- Your MARVIN (Michigan’s Automated Response Voice Interactive Network) PIN number if you had previously applied for benefits
- Your Name and address of your previous employers
- The amount you earned from your employer in the previous 18 months
- If you are not a US citizen, you’ll need your alien registration number and the expiry date of your work permit
How Much Will You Receive In Unemployment Benefits
The exact amount of how much unemployment benefits you will receive will depend on your most recent salary.
High-income earners can expect to receive the maximum amount of benefits under the program.
However, no matter how much you earned, what you will get in unemployment benefits will only be a fraction of what you used to earn when on the job.
The Michigan unemployment agency can provide you benefits going up to a maximum of $362 per week for a total of 26 weeks.
As a result, the total amount that you can get on unemployment is $9,412.
Standard Base Pay
To qualify, the unemployment insurance agency (UIA) will assess your standard base period to determine if your wages allow you to qualify for unemployment benefits where your standard base is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters prior to the filing of your claim.
You may qualify for unemployment benefits if your wages qualify based on the regular method or the alternate earnings qualifier.
Each calendar quarter in a given year is January to March, April to June, July to September, and October to December.
For the standard base period, or the regular method, you must have wages in at least two quarters in the base period.
Alternate Earnings Qualifier
If you are not eligible based on the assessment of your standard base period, the UIA will look at your wages in an alternate base period which is the four most recently completed calendar quarters.
For the Alternate Earnings Qualifier or AEQ, you must have wages in at least two quarters and have total wages for all four quarters must equal at least 20 times the state average weekly wage (SAWW).
For example, for the year 2020, the AEQ amount is $20,742 (20 x $1,037.10 = $20,742).
Takeaways
So there you have it folks!
If you have recently lost your job or you believe that you may be losing your job, as a Michigan employee or former employee, you may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits.
The first step is to make sure you qualify for unemployment.
Then, you’ll need to apply to get the benefits.
I hope this article was helpful in getting you the information you need during your unemployment benefits research.
To conclude, I wanted to leave you with a few links that could be relevant to you:
