| n Unemployment Benefits Explained | | | | Explained |
| The State of Michigan is facing tough times. With | | | | Once qualified with an approved claim, the |
| rising unemployment and the often complex | | | | unemployed worker must continually certify their |
| unemployment benefits system, mistakes are | | | | unemployed status with the State of Michigan |
| being made and workers are wrongfully being | | | | every other week. The unemployed worker is |
| denied their unemployment benefit payments. | | | | expected to report to the UIA through the use |
| With new developments in unemployment laws | | | | of the Internet or telephone using |
| and the federal stimulus package, unemployment | | | | Michigan’s Automated Response Voice |
| benefits in Michigan are worth more than ever. | | | | Interactive Network, (MARVIN). A scheduled |
| For some beneficiaries, benefits can reach 72 | | | | MARVIN appointment is based on the last two |
| weeks and nearly $30,000. | | | | digits of their Social Security number. To access |
| If an initial claim for unemployment benefits is | | | | MARVIN via the Internet, unemployment |
| denied, it is important for an unemployed worker | | | | beneficiaries can visit and select the UIA Online |
| to understand why they were denied, and what | | | | Services for Unemployed Workers link. A free |
| they can do to request a re-determination or | | | | UIA online account can be created. MARVIN can |
| appeal to protect their rights and get a proper | | | | also be reached at 1-866-638-3993, to find out |
| and just determination. This article addresses the | | | | scheduled times, beneficiaries can visit |
| basic framework and is intended to help the | | | | How Much Will Michigan Unemployment |
| Michigan unemployment applicant understand the | | | | Beneficiaries Receive and How? |
| process. In difficult situations, experienced legal | | | | Once approved and certified, it is important to |
| representation may be essential. | | | | know how the UIA determines the amount of |
| The Unemployment Application Process in Michigan | | | | unemployment benefit payment and how to |
| During their first week of unemployment, | | | | receive it. During the unemployment application |
| unemployed workers are asked to visit the | | | | process, the UIA will ask the unemployed |
| Michigan Unemployment Insurance | | | | workers to select a choice of payment through |
| Agency’s website at: the website is | | | | either a state issued debit card or direct deposit |
| available to file new unemployment claims Monday | | | | into their personal bank account. To determine the |
| — Saturday from 7am to 7pm. There is | | | | specific amount of benefit payments, the UIA |
| also a telephone option: 1-866-500-0017. Unless | | | | staff multiplies the highest amount of wages paid |
| instructed otherwise by Unemployment Agency | | | | in any base period quarter by 4.1%. For each |
| staff, applicants must register within two to three | | | | dependant claimed, the UIA adds $6 per |
| business days at their local Michigan Works! | | | | dependant up to five. Currently, the weekly |
| Agency to upload a resume to the Michigan | | | | benefit amount is capped at a maximum of $362. |
| Talent Bank. | | | | To determine how many weeks of benefits are |
| First time applicants will receive in the mail the | | | | available to an unemployed worker, the UIA |
| following items: | | | | multiplies total base period wages by 43% and |
| --A determination showing the amount of weekly | | | | then divides that answer by a weekly benefit |
| benefits and the number of weeks they may | | | | amount. The initial benefit cannot be less than 14 |
| receive based on the wages earned. | | | | weeks or more than 26 weeks. However, many |
| --A booklet with detailed information about their | | | | emergency changes to the process have resulted |
| rights and responsibilities for unemployment | | | | in a series of extensions for unemployment |
| benefits. | | | | beneficiaries. For some, benefits may extend up |
| --If there is an eligibility issue with their claim, they | | | | to 72 weeks. The new federal stimulus package |
| will receive a separate notice. | | | | may also include subsidy for extended COBRA |
| The unemployment claim process starts with an | | | | benefits for some beneficiaries. |
| initial determination by the Unemployment Agency | | | | Special Emergency Extensions Available to |
| as to whether the applicant is eligible. Provided the | | | | Michigan’s Unemployed Workers |
| applicant was fully employed in an eligible job, the | | | | In recent developments, the Federal Government |
| agency’s determination is based on two | | | | has provided an extension of benefits under the |
| questions: whether the separation from | | | | Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC), |
| employment was voluntary and, if not, whether | | | | which includes a 20 week extension upon the initial |
| the employment termination was based on | | | | state benefit period. The second part of the EUC |
| misconduct. The initial determination is a first look | | | | is an additional 13 week extension upon that. In |
| and is not often without mistakes. | | | | addition, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm |
| Unfortunately, mistakes in the initial unemployment | | | | signed an extension benefit for an additional 13 |
| determination are common. The most common | | | | weeks as of February 13th, 2009. Therefore, the |
| mistakes involve inappropriate assumptions about | | | | total of available weeks of unemployment |
| a resignation or overreaching claims of misconduct | | | | benefits that unemployed workers may receive |
| in employer challenges. Often, employers challenge | | | | would equal 72 weeks. The unemployment |
| the benefits based on general performance issues | | | | agency is responsible for notifying those eligible |
| or tardiness, issues not considered to be | | | | for the extensions when they are approaching the |
| misconduct under the unemployment law. | | | | end of their initial claim. |
| Misconduct under the employment laws is meant | | | | What to Do If Michigan Unemployment Benefits |
| to be a limited category related to outright theft, | | | | are Denied or Challenged |
| misrepresentation or workplace drunkenness, not | | | | The Michigan unemployment process is complex |
| generalized performance issues. | | | | and has many layers. The agency’s first |
| When it comes to voluntary termination of | | | | decision is called a determination. After that the |
| employment, mistakes are often based on | | | | employer or the employee has 30 days to |
| assumptions when employees resign just to | | | | challenge the determination and request a |
| protect their record, when in fact, many | | | | redetermination. If either side is not |
| employees resign only involuntarily and only | | | | satisfied, they are given an additional amount of |
| because they have been told their job is ending. | | | | time to request an appeal, to be heard by an |
| Such resignations are not voluntary under | | | | administrative law judge at the unemployment |
| the Michigan unemployment laws and should not | | | | agency. |
| be used to deny benefits. | | | | For both sides, the appeal will be the first chance |
| Basic Requirements for Michigan Unemployment | | | | to present evidence and take testimony. After |
| Benefits | | | | the appeal, challenges may go on to a board of |
| The Michigan unemployment agency looks at the | | | | review and then to Michigan’s court |
| unemployed worker’s earnings in the first | | | | system. The biggest mistake people make is to |
| four out of the past five completed calendar | | | | give up on the process too early or to allow |
| quarters to determine if they are eligible for | | | | deadlines to pass. Employees often lose their |
| benefit payments. If they do not qualify under the | | | | rights — sometimes worth over $20,000 |
| standard base period they will then be | | | | — simply by missing the deadlines. |
| reexamined using the four most recent quarters | | | | Sometimes, employers succeed by making |
| called the alternate base period. There is | | | | continuous challenges and waiting for the |
| one last section to determine qualifications that | | | | employee to give up. |
| the unemployed worker will have to certify with | | | | Other times employees may lose because they |
| the State of Michigan. According to the UIA | | | | did not prepare for the appeal, or they are not |
| website, To be eligible for unemployment | | | | adequately represented when they get there. |
| benefits, you must be unemployed and able to, | | | | When it comes to an appeal, many employees |
| available for, and actively seeking suitable full-time | | | | lose because they are not prepared to give |
| work. Some may worry that if they left their | | | | testimony at the hearing or they are not |
| previous employer by turning in a resignation that | | | | represented. Simple steps can be taken to |
| they would be exempt from unemployment | | | | protect unemployment appeal rights. |
| benefits. Although initial unemployment | | | | Unemployment advocates are available free of |
| determinations may result in a denial of benefits, | | | | charge through the agency and some private |
| the fact of a resignation should not result in a | | | | employment attorneys are willing represent |
| denial, if it is involuntary. | | | | individuals in the unemployment process for a flat |
| The Process for Unemployment Beneficiaries | | | | fee. |