Rules Governing Jobless Benefits in Michigan

The state of Michigan has laid out a clear set of rules governing the process of collecting unemployment benefits. These rules cover eligibility, the application process, and the appeals process. When filing your unemployment benefits claim, it would be helpful to consult an experienced Michigan employment law attorney, since the process can be somewhat complicated.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for unemployment benefits in the state of Michigan, you must have been laid off. If you quit or were fired, you will not be able to collect benefits. Your termination must have not been due to any fault of your own.

Part-time employees are eligible for unemployment in Michigan. Furthermore, if you live in Indiana but worked in Michigan, you may file for unemployment in either state.

In order to qualify for unemployment benefits, you must satisfy a minimum earnings requirement. Your earnings from all employers in the last five calendar quarters will be analyzed. In order to be eligible for benefits, you must have at least two calendar quarters with total earnings of $4,306.50 or more. If you cannot prove sufficient earnings in at least two calendar quarters, you will not receive any benefits.

The total value of your benefits depends on your income. However, the maximum weekly benefit is $387. This figure includes the $25 add-on from the federal government.

Typically, the Michigan unemployment program will disburse benefits for 26 weeks. However, with all of the extended benefits programs offered by the federal government, you can actually receive benefits for up to 72 weeks.

The Application Process

You must apply for your benefits through the state’s unemployment insurance agency. You can go to their website at www.michigan.gov/uia and apply online from 7 a.m. Monday through 7 p.m. Saturday.

If you cannot access the Internet, you can call the unemployment insurance agency at (866) 500-0017. You can reach them between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Between Monday and Wednesday, you must call at a specific time based on the last two digits of your Social Security number. On Thursday and Friday, you can call at any time.

The Appeals Process

Both employers and employees can appeal a decision on a claim. If your claim is denied, you will have four opportunities to appeal the ruling:

If you need help with a Michigan unemployment claim, please contact the Michigan employment law attorneys at Jay Trucks & Associates, P.C. today to schedule a consultation. We serve clients in Flint, Saginaw, and Lansing, Michigan.

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