Insider Intelligence

The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded the state $6.8 million in grant funding to make it easier for workers in underserved communities to access jobless benefits. This includes workers who have historically had difficulties applying for benefits, rural and urban areas where residents have limited internet access, and those with language barriers. The grant […]

The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is waiving $431 million in overpayments of federal pandemic unemployment benefits paid to 55,000 Michigan residents. These overpayments were made by no fault of those who received the benefits. “No Michigander who did the right thing when applying for benefits should be required to pay anything back resulting from errors at […]

The U.S. Department of Labor granted a request by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to expand eligibility of waivers for Michigan workers who received Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Through no fault of their own, thousands of Michigan residents received overpayment of assistance during the pandemic. In July, Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) issued approximately 350,000 waivers not requiring […]

The House passed a bill package making several reforms to Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA), which has been plagued by problems over the last several years. The legislation would address mistakes, make procedural changes, ensures recipients of an emergency federal unemployment program don’t have to repay due to a state government error, and makes a […]

The Michigan Unemployment Agency (UIA) is joining a U.S. Department of Labor initiative that will analyze challenges at the agency and recommend resources or processes to address fraud, case backlog, equity, and system modernization. Michigan is one of the first 18 states to participate in the program. The main goal is to prevent, detect, and […]

This week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced several leadership changes throughout state government. Julie Dale, recently named director of the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB), will transition to director of the Unemployment Insurance Agency. She is replacing Liza Estlund Olson, who will return to her previous role as director at the Office of the […]

In response to problems over the past year, the House Republican Caucus introduced a series of reforms to the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA).  Members hope the package will achieve better customer service, promote accountability, and provide clarity to residents. Specifics reforms include: The UIA will be required to complete reviews and determinations within 10 business […]

Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is reinstating the work search requirements for unemployment benefit claimants starting May 30, 2021. The requirement had been suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic. Prior to that, it was a requirement under the state’s regular unemployment insurance program as well as federal benefit programs. There are a few […]