Michigan Unemployment Weekly Claims

Michigan Unemployment Weekly Claims

For workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, Michigan unemployment insurance is an essential financial safety net. The temporary financial assistance offered through Michigan unemployment insurance benefits provides Michigan workers with support as they transition into new employment. As part of your participation in the UI benefits program in Michigan, you’ll be required to submit weekly claims that help ensure you receive the appropriate weekly benefit amount.

How to certify for Michigan unemployment benefits

Once you’ve established your Michigan unemployment eligibility, you’ll begin receiving unemployment benefits payments and certifying your continued eligibility by submitting bi-weekly claims.

With these bi-weekly claims, you’ll be asked to provide information about your activities for the week, including work search activities, your availability and ability to accept a new job, and any part-time wages or severance, holiday pay, etc., associated with your previous job. The state uses all of this information to document that each UI benefits claimant remains in compliance with program requirements.

When you submit your initial claim for UI benefits, you should receive Form UIA 1575C, Monetary Determination, which will outline your weekly benefit amount, the number of weeks you are allowed, and when you should begin submitting bi-weekly certification claims. If you have not yet received your Monetary Determination notice, you can use the Michigan unemployment calculator to estimate your payments.

The certification process is fairly quick and simple, and the state of Michigan offers a couple of different options for how you can submit your weekly unemployment benefits claim.

How to certify online

The fastest and easiest way to submit your weekly claim is to do so online. You can do so by logging into the Michigan Web Account Manager.

Here’s how:

  • First, navigate to your MiWAM UI claim page, then Account Alerts. You should see the statement, “You have benefits weeks that have not been certified – click here to Certify.”
  • Once you’ve selected “Certify,” answer the questions for Week 1. Each question requires a simple yes or no response.
  • Review your answers and click Submit.
  • Then, answer the questions for Week 2. Once again, they are all yes or no questions.
  • Review your answers for Week 2 and click submit.
  • Typically, you should receive your unemployment benefits payment within two to three business days. If you do not receive your payment within this timeframe, you should send a message to the agency through your MiWAM account or call 1-866-500-0017 to report the delayed unemployment payment.

How to certify by phone

If applying online is not an available option for you, you’re also welcome to submit your bi-weekly claims over the phone. You can call 1-866-638-3993 Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to submit your claim. This allows you to access Michigan’s Automated Response Voice Interactive Network – or MARVIN.

Claimants who certify for unemployment benefits using MARVIN are required to call on the scheduled day and time that corresponds with the last two digits of their Social Security Number. You’ll receive instructions about your assigned day and time within your Monetary Determination letter. If, when making your claim, you need to speak with a customer service representative, you can stay on the line after submitting your answers to the certification questions.

When you choose to submit your bi-weekly claims using MARVIN, you’ll be required to set up a four-digit Personal Identification Number, which will serve as your digital signature for submitting your unemployment compensation claims. Please note that you only need this PIN if you apply by phone, and you’ll need to keep it somewhere safe and secure so that it cannot be used by anyone other than you. This helps Michigan guard against unemployment fraud.

The state of Michigan asks that before using MARVIN to submit your first weekly claim, you read the entire Michigan unemployment benefits information booklet you should have received by mail. You also should make sure to have your responses ready to enter and you should have already selected your four digit PIN. In addition, make sure you know the week ending dates for the weeks you are claiming. You must use Saturday’s date for the week ending date.

Sample Certification Questions

Part of the bi-weekly certification process is answering a series of questions about your employment-related activities and potential wages for the week you’re certifying.

Here are the kinds of questions you’re likely to see:

  • Were you physically and mentally able to perform full-time work for any employer during the week you’re certifying?
  • Did you make any effort to look for work during the week you’re certifying? Note that when you answer, “yes,” you’ll need to list the work search activities you engaged in for the week.
  • Did you quit any job during the week you’re certifying?
  • Did you refuse to accept an offer of work during the week you’re certifying?
  • Were you fired from any job during the week you’re certifying?
  • Did you earn any wages, even if you haven’t received them yet, during the certification week?

It’s important to answer these questions thoroughly and honestly so that the state of Michigan can verify that you remain in compliance with eligibility requirements, especially Michigan unemployment work search requirements. Knowingly providing false information to these questions is considered unemployment fraud.

How to Collect Your Payment

Michigan offers UI benefits recipients two different options for collecting their payments: You can choose either direct deposit into your bank account or have your benefits loaded onto a Michigan UI debit card. Michigan UIA does not send paper checks.

You will have the opportunity to choose your payment option when you submit your initial Michigan unemployment application. Either electronic option is faster, more secure, and more convenient than a paper check. With either option, you also eliminate any worry about mail delays keeping you from receiving your unemployment benefits on time.

Depending on the method of payment you choose, either your debit card will be issued or your direct deposit established once a decision is made regarding your unemployment benefits claim. Moving forward, benefit funds generally are added to your Michigan UI Debit Card or deposited into your bank account within two or three days after you submit your bi-weekly certification claim.

If you decide you’d like to change your unemployment compensation method, you can call the Michigan unemployment office or you can make the change online through your MiWAM account. Please also note that if you fail to specify how you would like to receive your unemployment benefits, the state of Michigan automatically will load them onto a debit card for you.

  1. I am trying to register for unemployment benefits, I received a one week check in February of 2019 I found a job. I just lost my job on September 2 2020 I attempted to file and they will not send me a authenticity code text. I found the site and update my number in the system which is the same number but it will not send the code. I used my son phone number no code?

    • We are sorry to hear about your difficulties. There is a huge shortage of staff across all unemployment offices due to a massive surge in UI applications.We recommend you to apply for UI benefits online. Please read this for more details.

    • Sheila,

      Please note this is a private forum and we do not have any connection with the Unemployment Office. You can call them directly for help.

  2. I just certified my two weeks for the first time and the amount under certifications says $0.00 is there something wrong?

    • Jennifer,

      It might be system glitch or there might be something incorrect with the submission. Please call the Claims Center right away for help.

  3. i was supposed to certify for unemployment. I’ve already applied and was sent my certification conformation. For some reason it will not let me use online Marvin to submit my two weeks. Not sure what I am doing wrong. Please advise.

    • Anna,

      Please clear your browser cookies and history and try again. If the issue persists, please call the Unemployment Office for assistance.

  4. i hurt my knee at home a day off. next day went to work,im a bartender so im running around.the next day i couldn’t walk.called work told my boss i couldn’t work because i couldn’t walk.went to doc at walk in clinic.they took x-rays nothing showed any damage.now im wating for an mri.i missed 3 days work now.the following work weak is coming ill prob be off for four more days and i dont know for how many more.with doctors note of course.im wondering if i can apply for anything,and if so when and where do i apply.

  5. Hello, I have a question, if my weekly benefit is 300$ but I have earned 350$ by working 33 hours, still can I claim for benefits, how does it work, could you let me know? Thanks.

  6. I FILED FOR BENEFITS ON 8/14/2017 AND WAS TOLD TO CALL MARVIN ON 8/28/2017. I NEED TO KNOW THE TIME TO CALL AND ALSO THE BENEFIT AMOUNT. AM I SUPPOSED TO HAVE A CLAIM NUMBER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE

  7. I have not recived any benfiots since December od 2015 and have not recived my debit card in the mail…

    • Please call the Claims Center immediately for an update. Please remember it is your responsibility to chase periodically.

  8. My 3rd and 4th weeks were accepted yesterday.
    how long is the usual wait for a deposit?
    M.A.R.V.I.N said it would be today.

    • Please wait for a day or two for the payment. If you do not receive as per the timelines, please call the Claims Center for an update.

  9. i have been trying to get on line to claim my week ending and i cant. i went on phone sunday and its closed…help me ….

    • Please call the number during the prescribed hours.

      You will find these details on the official website of the Unemployment Office.

  10. I have received 20 week’s of unemployment and friends of mine say that i should receive 26 week’s.

    Should i be receiving 6 more week’s of unemployment ?

  11. I sighted up for unemployment on wiwam but i can’t find the Marvin web site too certify.does anyone know the web address???

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