Benefits to halt for 34,000 unemployed Michigan workers

DECEMBER 18, 2002 – Many of Michigan’s unemployed will soon be receiving notification in the mail that their federal unemployment benefits will be ending within days.

“This week we will be mailing notices to all of those currently receiving federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC), announcing that the program will end in Michigan and nationwide on Saturday, December 28,” Jack Wheatley, director of the state’s Bureau of Workers’ & Unemployment Compensation (BW&UC), reported.

The week ending December 28 is the final week of unemployment for which jobless workers will be compensated with TEUC.

“Even though unemployed workers may have benefits remaining on their TEUC claims, federal law does not allow us to compensate them for any weeks beyond December 28,” Wheatley explained.

He added that individuals claiming TEUC will not need to phone the MARVIN system after they certify for the week of December 28.  MARVIN is the Bureau’s interactive voice response system that unemployed workers must call once every two weeks to certify their eligibility for jobless benefits.

The Bureau estimates about 34,000 unemployed Michigan workers are currently collecting the federal benefits.

TEUC began on March 10, 2002, in response to the weakened national economy and the growing number of unemployed workers.  From March though November, the Bureau has taken applications from 181,500 jobless workers and has paid out approximately $451.1 million in TEUC.

Wheatley added that the Bureau is keeping an eye on Congress should they take action to extend the TEUC program once they are back in session in January.

“If Congress and the President should approve extending the program, we will contact jobless workers who are potentially eligible and give them instructions on how to apply for any new federal benefits,” Wheatley said.

The Bureau of Workers’ & Unemployment Compensation is a bureau within the Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services, the state’s primary licensing and regulatory department.