Michigan Unemployment Benefits
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Are you physically able to work? 
Are you willing to actively look for a job?
Did your employer pay unemployment taxes ("Covered Employment")?
Did you earn at least $4307 in the base period in Michigan? Base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. If you are filing today, base period is Jan 2012 - Mar 2012 to Oct 2012 - Dec 2012
 How did you lose your job? 
Did you quit your last job due to unsafe working conditions, not being paid, discrimination and / or health and safety risks?
Were you fired for no fault of your own?
Were you laid off for no fault of your own?
Apply Online:
Applying online is the easiest and fastest way to claim benefits. Check for more specific details such as timings and requirements to claim benefits in your state. 
CALL: 1-866-500-0017. You can call and file by using a touch-tone telephone from anywhere in the USA or Canada. For TTY callers, use 1-866-366-0004.
The scheduled time for filing by phone is based on the last two digits of your Social Security number. For example, if your Social Security number ends in 50, you would phone in your application on Tuesday afternoon. Workers 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.
Visit UC Center:
You can’t seem to find assistance on call? No worries. Visit one of the UC center and let the specialist help you out. Please note that wait times can be longer but assistance is guaranteed. you are not eligible | |||||||||
What is the Eligibility Criteria in Michigan?There are some basic rules for eligibility. Even if you meet some of these rules partially, you should still apply for unemployment because state offices make a reasonable attempt to process your claim, as long as you provide a good justification. To learn more check unemployment eligibility article A "base period" is four consecutive calendar quarters that fall within the 18 month period before establishing a new benefit year. Claim your benefits
How to File Your Initial Claim in Michigan?Information needed is as follows: If You Are Not a United States Citizen You must give verification that you were legally eligible to work in your state and that you are presently eligible to begin a new job. How to File Your Weekly Claim?After you file your application for unemployment benefits, you must start filing your weekly claims. You require filing each week, even though you are: You can file your weekly claim: File every week that you want to claim benefits and keep on filing until you go back to work, run out of benefits or stop seeking work. You should claim at least one week before we can make a decision on your eligibility. How to Claim for an Extension?If you are presently filing weekly claims for unemployment benefits; carry on filing your weekly claim if you are jobless or working reduced hours. You will be informed by mail of your eligibility for the added benefits. In case you have been filing weekly claims and are still laid off or working reduced hours, you will have to file an application for these extra benefits online or by telephone. You will be alerted by mail of your eligibility for the additional benefits. To be eligible for EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits you must: To be eligible for EB benefits you must:
View all questions Michigan Unemployment QuestionsAs the owner of a corporation, am I liable under the Michigan Employment Security (MES) Act? Yes. You are an employee of the corporation and assuming all other requirements are met, the corporation is liable. What is the tax rate and tax base for new employers in Michigan? The tax rate for all new employers except certain construction companies involved in large projects is 2.7%. That rate is paid on the first $9,000 of wages during the calendar year for each employee. If I have a positive balance in my reserve account, can that money be refunded to me? No. The unemployment taxes paid are like automobile insurance premiums. They are used to protect your employees against them becoming unemployed through no fault of their own. Likewise, if an employer terminates his/her business with a negative balance in the reserve account, he/she is not billed for the balance. How is an employer's tax rate determined? There are three separate components that determine a fully experienced employer's tax rate. (A fully experienced employer is an employer who is in his/her fifth year or more of business.) Why can a fired worker still collect unemployment benefits? A worker is disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits if he or she is fired for misconduct in connection with the work. If a worker is fired for incompetence or inability, rather than for willful misconduct, the worker will not be denied unemployment benefits. Even if a worker is fired for misconduct and disqualified from drawing unemployment benefits, he or she may requalify for benefits by going back to work and earning a certain required amount. The worker will then be able to collect benefits, but the UIA account of the employer involved in the firing will not be charged for the benefits. How do special payments (such as holiday and vacation pay) affect a worker's entitlement to UI benefits and are the payments taxable to the employer for UI tax purposes? If vacation pay and holiday pay vest within 14 days of the vacation or holiday, and if such pay is allocated by the employer to a specific week or weeks, it will be used for credit week and average weekly wage purposes for that week or those weeks, and will be taxable to the employer. It will also be used to reduce the worker's unemployment benefits for that week or those weeks. However, the employer cannot assign the payments to particular weeks if the employment contract prevents the employer from doing so. Severance pay and wage continuation pay are taxable to the employer but will not be used as base period wages to establish a claim. Severance pay will reduce a worker's entitlement to unemployment benefits during the week(s) designated by the employer or during the week(s) paid if not allocated to a specific period by the employer. Sick pay paid due to actual illness, and paid under an employer plan, will not be taxable to the employer, and will not be counted as part of a worker's average weekly wage nor used to establish a credit week. Can a temporary or probationary employee receive unemployment benefits? Wages paid to a temporary or probationary employee can be used to establish a claim for unemployment benefits. To set up a claim for unemployment benefits, a worker generally needs to be paid sufficient wages in the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters. The first four of the last five completed calendar quarters is called the Standard Base Period. During the base period, the person must have been paid wages in more than one quarter. In addition, the person needs to have high quarter wages of at least: The applicant's total base period wages must equal at least 1.5 times the high quarter wages. If the employee was not paid enough wages in the Standard Base period, wages can be used from the Alternate Base Period, which is the last four completed calendar quarters. If a business employs a temporary or probationary employee during the base period and the worker is paid sufficient wages by one or more other employers, the worker could set up a claim for unemployment benefits and the employer who provided the temporary or probationary work could be one of the chargeable employers on that claim. Do I need a UIA tax clearance when purchasing an existing business? If you purchase or acquire an existing business that is liable for unemployment taxes, the purchaser can be liable for tax debts incurred by the previous owner. The seller should request the tax clearance prior to the sale. The seller should contact Collections to obtain this. Registering for Work: After the claim is filed, you must register for work by filing a resume application at the Michigan Works! Agency (MWA) service center. To locate the nearest MWA center, go to www.michiganworks.org. You can also file your resume online, but you must still report in person to an MWA center to have your registration for work verified. MWA then notifies UIA that you have registered for work.
How Benefits are calculated?To calculate your weekly benefits amount click here The minimum benefits amount in Michigan is $117. The maximum benefits amount in Michigan is $362 A "base period" is four consecutive calendar quarters that fall within the 18 month period before establishing a new benefit year. To learn more Unemployment benefits article |
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ARE CNAS ELEGIBLE TO COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT WHRN THEY ARE TERMINATED FROM THEIR JOBS
I filed for unemployment and i didnt have a printer. how can i go back on to print the paper i need for michigan works?
I became physically unable to do my job (2 months now). My employer said he would hold my job for me until I am better. At first he let me answer phones and then decided I was too much a risk at work. So, I have not worked for the last 2 months, been in the hospital twice and admitted once. I am still trying to get back on my feet but have been with no income for the last couple of months. I am able to work just not able to do the job I was doing. Can/should I apply for unemployment?
I work part time for an attorney that is running for Circuit Court Judge, and we are all confident she will win in November. That means she will have to close her sole practioner office. Would I be able to collect unemployment benefits in this case scenario?
My husband will be off work for 12 weeks due to surgery. We have no disability at his work is there any help for us. Can he get unemployment?
Whether your husband can get unemployment benefits depends on his state’s eligibility requirements. Though requirements can vary widely from state to state, one of the universal requirements is that he be physically able to perform work.
If your husband is unable to work permanently, unemployment benefits will be denied. If he is unable to work temporarily due to surgery, he can’t collect benefits for the time he is unable to work. He must report his availability to work to the state accurately or he could face stiff penalties.
My husband has to go to texas for work we have sold our house to go. can i get unemployment even though i had to quit my job in order to
go with my husband
A respiratory Therapist who is on consignment, hours get cut to 1 dayfrom 3 days min a week from a Hospital….Can he/she file for unemployment?
I am getting social security and will be laid off from my part time job. Can I collect unemployment and keep my social security?
If under the WARN ACT do I still file for unemployment benefits and if the la not permanent yet does my benefit still count for week not claimed?
I am possibly quitting my job for a number of reasons. I was promised a position within 5 months of being hired then I never got that position. Due to that I am never provided with a schedule so it’s hard for me to make arrangements for my 4 kids. While I was out on maternity leave my boss sent me text messages asking for my letter of resignation. The list of reasons can go on and on but does it sound like I have “just cause” to quit?
I am on short term disability that will end next week. I can not collect long term disability because I did not finish a year of work. I work for walmart and can not go back to work because of my knees. No heavy lifting. Walmart will not let me go back to work because of restrictions. Can I apply for unemployment?
I recently had a baby and had my tubes done, my work is only allowing me 8 Weeks then they are terminating me because my doctor said 12-14 due to the csection,tubes and a heart condition also I was taken off 1week early due to preclamisia will I qualify for unemployment,I’ve been with the company for 5years.
I am moving out of state. I am eligable to collect unemployment. Can I still collect while looking for a job over there?
If you move out of state, you can still collect unemployment. You must complete a change of address form on line and continue to file your weekly claims. You will have to search for work in your new state.
I called an attorney about unpaid commissions the company I worked for owes me. They have found out and are making very difficult because they will have to pay. If I quit my job am I eligible for unemployment because of the stress they are putting on me.
Thank You
Rich
I am wondering why I am only getting a partial payment this time. Whenever I call the number given they say they are to busy to answer
I was let go from my job on tuesday after 13 years. They have offer me a severance package, if I sign this agreement I will receive 12 weeks of pay as a reg paycheck with benefits. I would like to know if I should sign up for unemployment now of after the severance pay is done and will I receive unemployment benefits if I don’t have a job.
i have been trying to reach the 866 500 0017 phone number for hours daily but have not been able to get through i need help with my claim i havent received any payment for my claim for last week of march and first week of april my next reporting date is april 24th please help me thank you
Hi Phillip,
Are you calling from a touch tone phone? If you have the eligibility to receive unemployment benefits, you can go ahead and start filing your weekly claims. If you do not file weekly, you will not receive any amount. Please check these links to know how you can go about filing your weekly claims. You will have to serve a waiting week during which you will not receive any payment.
http://fileunemployment.org/michigan/weekly-claims
http://fileunemployment.org/michigan/office-locations
http://fileunemployment.org/michigan/job-search-requirements
Phones are usually busy due to high call volumes. Trying calling at the end of the week and second slot of the day. Unemployment offices suffer heavy call volumes on mondays and tuesdays.
Am I eligible for benefits and I only worked from December of last year until May of 2013?
Hi Anthony,
Few states provide assistance to workers who do not have sufficient earnings in the base period. This means, the unemployment office provides some benefits to workers who have worked only a couple of months under covered employment. Contact the unemployment office and check if Michigan is one of those states.
can i file for unemployment being hired in as a temp
Hi Crystal,
You can apply but I hope you know that there are other eligibility requirements which need you to have earned a certain amount last year or in your base period. You need to have worked previously under covered employment where your employer has paid employment taxes. These taxes fund unemployed workers and is state regulated.
I was self employed last year and I did file taxes so does that count for my eligibilit?
Self employment is usually not considered. But, there is no harm in trying.
Is there a difference between severance pay and termination pay. Our jobs are being terminated in July and we were told that if if is severance we cannot collect unemployment. Yet it is not it is termination. So it has caused a lot of confusion with the wording. Please clarify if we are being terminated can we still collect unemployment,and does the company have to code it as termination for us to collect it. Thank you…I hope this makes sense
Hi P Jones,
In order to receive unemployment benefits, you must have lost job through no fault of your own. Termination and severance pay appear to be the same, but, I’m sorry I am unable to help you with that. You can go ahead and apply for benefits and during your weekly claims, you will have an opportunity to provide information about the severance or termination pay what you received. Look up for other eligibility requirements to receive unemployment benefits.
in a small incorporated family owned business, with employees who are also minor share holders, does the corporations unemployment tax apply to all employees who are also minority share holders; and can employees who are also minor shareholders qualify for unemployment benefits
Hi Steve,
If the corporation is filing employment taxes to the state government, then its employees are entitled to receive unemployment benefits when laid off. Usually if the employee is holding shares of 25% or more of the corporation then, he/she might be exempted from receiving unemployment benefits. You might want to check with Michigan unemployment office for a more accurate take on this. Please let us know if you gather more information on the same. Thank you.
I was involuntarily put on leave by employer for 3 weeks pending with no pay, due to injury. Do I qualify for underemployment wages, because the company, nor I have short term disability policy?
Hi Tanisha,
Here are your possibilities to receive benefits -
Was this a work related injury? If yes, then you may be entitled to receive benefits.
If not, your chances are slim as unemployment compensation requires the workers to be available and able to work in order to receive benefits.
I have to move, my wife got a job 35 miles from my work so I have to quit and find a job closer to our new home. Will I be able to collect unemployment until I find a job??
Hi Glenn,
You might be eligible to receive benefits as you seem to be quitting for a good cause.