Michigan Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment Insurance (UI) in Michigan is handled by the Department of Talent and Economic Development. The department offers monetary benefits to those who have lost jobs through no fault of their own.

The department also offers various other services to make the claimants of the UI benefits more competent and help them get jobs easily. The following information will help you understand the criteria for eligibility, how to apply, how much benefits you may approximately receive and other information that you will need to know throughout the times you receive unemployment benefits.

Michigan UI Benefits Calculator

The Michigan Unemployment Benefits Calculator helps you estimate your UI weekly benefits amount.

Michigan Unemployment Calculator

Eligibility Requirements for UI Benefits in Michigan

To be eligible for unemployment benefits in Michigan, you are expected to meet monetary, work separation and job search requirements to gain and maintain eligibility for unemployment benefits.

Monetary Eligibility

To gain monetary eligibility for unemployment benefits in Michigan, you must make sure that you have enough wages in your base period. The state of Michigan evaluates your monetary eligibility using one of the two types of base period calculations – Standard Base Period and Alternative Base Period.

The Department of Talent and Economic Development first looks into the wages you have earned in your Standard Base Period. This period consists of four calendar quarters, and the wages earned in the first four of the last five calendar quarters will be considered for eligibility. 

The following criteria must be fulfilled to be considered eligible:

• You must have received wages in at least two calendar quarters in the Standard Base Period
• In your quarter you earned your highest wages in the base period, you earned at least $3,598
• The total base period wages must be at least 1.5 times more than the wages earned in the highest earning quarter

If you fail to meet the criteria through the standard base period calculations, the department will automatically look into the Alternative Base Period. As per the Alternative Base Period, wages earned in the last four calendar quarters will be considered for determining eligibility.

The state of Michigan offers a third option to those who do not have the wages to qualify in the Standard Base Period or in the Alternative Period, called the Alternative Earnings Qualifier. As per this:

• You must have wages in at least two calendar quarters in the base period
• The wages earned in the highest earning quarter must be at least 20 times the State Average Weekly Wage

The Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA), or the amount you may receive if you qualify for the unemployment benefits, is determined by the quarterly wages. The maximum WBA that an applicant can earn in Michigan is $362.

The benefit period or the number of weeks you would receive the monetary benefits is also based on the wages earned in the base period. To determine the benefit period, your total base period wages are multiplied by 43 percent and are divided by your WBA. The maximum number of weeks one may be eligible for is 20 weeks and the minimum is for 14 weeks.

Learn more about Michigan unemployment eligibility requirements

Job Separation

The reason for your separation from your previous organization is crucial to determine your eligibility for unemployment benefits. There are certain preconditions that you must satisfy to gain eligibility for unemployment benefits in Michigan. They include:

• You must have lost the job due to no fault of your own
• You were asked to leave from your organization or your working hours were shortened in your place of work due to lack of work
• The reason for your separation should not be your involvement in any criminal activities
• You were not fired due to reasons such as misconduct or drug abuse

The Department of Talent and Economic Development will conduct a background check on this by consulting your previous employer. If the reason for the separation given by your employer does not match with your reason, you may not gain eligibility for unemployment benefits.

Find out if your job separation reason is valid and if you’re eligible for benefits using the eligibility calculator.

Michigan Eligibility Calculator

Maintaining Eligibility

The responsibility of maintaining eligibility does not end with claiming for benefits. You must maintain eligibility throughout the benefit period. If at any point, you become ineligible during the benefits weeks, the Department will not issue your benefit amount.  

To make sure that you maintain eligibility through the benefit period, you must follow the below mentioned points:

• You must be able to work throughout the benefit period
• You must be available to work throughout the benefit period
• You must be actively pursuing jobs
• You must report at least two search contacts made every week
• After collecting 50 percent of the entitled benefits, you must apply for and accept any work that is suitable

You must be reporting for benefits as directed by the agency

Find out on job search requirements

How To Apply For UI Benefits in Michigan?

To apply for Michigan unemployment benefits, you must submit the following documents:

There are a number of options to file for unemployment benefits in Michigan, such as:

Online

You can log in to the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) to apply for benefits online. The online portal is accessible 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. You can register as a new user if you are filing for the first time, or can log in using your ID and password if you’re returning to apply for weekly benefits.

Telephone

Call the Michigan Unemployment phone number to file unemployed benefits over the phone. Services for the hearing impaired are also available. You can reach the customer line from Monday to Friday, from 8 AM to 4:30 PM. You can also get help in Spanish by selecting Spanish as your preferred language.

The state of Michigan also allows you to file claims through the Michigan Automated Response Voice Interactive Network known as MARVIN.

Learn how to apply for unemployment in Michigan

How To File Weekly Claims

Connect with The Department of Talent and Economic Development through either MARVIN or MiWAM to collect your weekly benefit amount.

You must use the Michigan Identification Number (MIN) for security and privacy reasons every time you try to obtain Unemployment Insurance services. The MIN number can be found on most letters mailed or e-mailed to you by the department, and this will be linked to all your UI documents.

Learn how to claim weekly benefits

Things To Know After Filing An Application

You must be aware of various responsibilities, opportunities, and prohibitions that are applicable even after filing the application for weekly benefits. This will help you to make full use of all the services provided by the state of Michigan, without breaking any rules.

Overpayments And Frauds

An overpayment occurs when you are paid an excessive benefit amount, more than what you are entitled to collect. If it’s found that you have received an overpayment, the concerned department will send you a letter notifying about the overpayment and process of repayment.

The state of Michigan takes cases of unemployment fraud very seriously. Detecting and prosecuting cases of fraud is seen as a priority by the state’s UI program. A regular audit is conducted to ensure that the benefits are given out in accordance with state and federal laws.

Benefits Extension

The state of Michigan will issue temporary extended unemployment benefits during periods of high unemployment and natural disasters. Learn more about Michigan unemployment extensions.

Job Training Assistance

The state of Michigan runs a program called ‘No Worker Left Behind’ (NWLB), which aims to help workers acquire the skills necessary to succeed in the present global scenario. The state defines the vision of the program as the following:

• Accelerate worker transitions through learning
• Support the employers and economic development of the state of Michigan
• Make use of existing training resources

The NWLB offers some important services to help you in finding new avenues for your careers, such as:

• Under this program, you can claim free tuition at any Michigan community college, university, or any other approved training programs
• Skill assessment given by the Michigan Works! Agencies (MWA)
• The MWAs will assist the applicants who pass out of the colleges to find placements
• The MWAs will help the participants identify high demand occupation in the region

Learn more job training opportunities in MI

Appeals

If you disagree with the decision regarding your initial Michigan unemployment benefits claim, you have the right to file an appeal. In Michigan, this is known formally as a protest, and it must be submitted within 30 days of the date on your determination letter.

There are several reasons a claimant may choose to protest a decision. For example, you may protest if your claim is denied outright, or you may also want to protest the specific amount of benefits you are awarded if you believe there has been an error in calculating your weekly benefit amount. Regardless of your reason, it’s important to submit your protest on time and to continue filing weekly claims while you wait for an updated decision.

Michigan unemployment contact information

If you have questions about your claim for Michigan UI benefits, or require assistance with filing, you call the unemployment claims center.

For help with finding a new job, including resume writing help and training programs, visit your local American Jobs Center.

More Michigan Benefits

Besides traditional unemployment insurance benefits, the state of Michigan administers several additional programs, from food assistance programs to emergency support, designed to temporarily help residents who are facing financial difficulty.

Cash Assistance

The state of Michigan makes available temporary cash assistance for pregnant women and low income families with small children. Those who apply for cash assistance are enrolled in Michigan’s Partnership, Accountability, Training, Hope (PATH) program, which features a 21-day assessment timeframe during which individuals’ employment barriers are identified.

Caseworkers work personally with each client to connect them with the best resources to help them address these barriers.

Food Assistance

Michigan participates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which originates at the federal level, but is administered independently by each state that participates. You may know this program by its former name: the food stamps program. SNAP helps low-income families access safe and nutritious food. Families receive benefits via an Electronic Benefits Transfer card that can be used just like a debit card to purchase eligible food items from participating grocery stores, farmers markets and other food vendors.

Housing Assistance

Michigan’s Housing and Homeless Services Division provides grants to local organizations so that they can assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The goal of this assistance is to help transition these individuals and families into stable housing as quickly as possible. The grants provided by the state make sure that as many people as possible have access to the support they need to gain permanent housing stability.

Health Care Coverage

For low income residents of Michigan, healthcare coverage is available through a variety of programs, including Medicaid, the Healthy Michigan Plan, and MIChild.

• Michigan’s Medicaid program represents its participation in the federal Medicaid initiative, designed to provide essential health care services for low-income individuals
• The Healthy Michigan Plan offers additional options for covering medically necessary services including hospitalization, maternity care, emergency services, pediatric care, and more.
• MIChild provides health and dental insurance coverage for Michigan children under age 19 who have no other health insurance coverage.

Emergency Assistance

In cases of emergencies and extreme hardship, the state of Michigan helps residents through two key programs: State Emergency Relief and the Weatherization Assistance Program. These efforts combine financial assistance and contracts with a network of nonprofit organizations that help low-income households during temporary crises that threaten their immediate health and safety. It’s important to note that these programs are not intended as solutions to ongoing or chronic financial difficulties.