Wage and Hour Frequently Asked Questions

After your claim is reviewed, you will receive a Monetary Determination letter. This letter will explain if you monetarily meet the requirements for unemployment.

To review this letter in your MiWAM account:

• Click on the Correspondence tab.

• Go to Unread Letters and click on View Letters.

• Click on UIA 1575C - Claimant Monetary Determination.

Additionally, you can find this letter under the Determination Status tab.

• Click on the blue Letter ID hyperlink on the left of Monetary Determination.

An overpayment occurs when you receive unemployment benefits that you are not entitled to. This could occur if you made a mistake when certifying for benefits, if you were not able or available to work, or you knowingly gave false or misleading information when filing a claim.

If you are overpaid unemployment benefits, you will receive a letter notifying you of the overpayment and how to start the repayment process. If you have been overpaid benefits and are currently employed, contact the UI Benefit Overpayment Collection Unit at 1-866-500-0017 to arrange repayment terms.

If you are still receiving unemployment benefits while you have an overpayment, 50 percent (or 100 percent if fraud was involved) of your weekly unemployment benefits will be taken for repayment (this is called recoupment).

Interest on overpayments is one percent per month. Interest accrues daily and will continue to accrue until the total amount due is paid.

Failure to repay benefits improperly received can also result in:

• Garnishment of your wages.
• Your Federal and State of Michigan income tax refunds can be taken to pay the debt.
• Lottery winnings you claim in excess of $1,000 may be intercepted.
• Your claim being referred for criminal prosecution as a felony.
• You may not be able to receive future benefit payments.

If you have a question or problem with your claim, you can contact UIA through different methods:

• Chat online with an agent or representative through your MiWAM account.
• Schedule an in-person, phone or virtual appointment with a customer service agent.
• Call our customer service line at 1-866-500-0017 to speak with an agent or representative. Due to heavy call volumes, especially on Mondays and Tuesdays, callers may experience long wait times. We recommend to call later in the week when wait times are typically shorter.

The Benefits Rights and Responsibility Reminder letters are informational only, to remind you of your rights and responsibilities during your Unemployment benefit year. These letters are sent out to everyone at one month and again at six months after your first payment was issued. No response is required on your part.

One reason could be because you had excessive earnings for the week you are claiming benefits.

Excessive earnings are when your wages for that week equal or exceed your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA). In order to receive unemployment benefits your earnings cannot exceed 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount. To calculate your earnings for the week multiply your hourly rate of pay by the number of hours you worked during the week (Sunday through Saturday).

If you are earning income from a part time job or are still working, but with reduced hours (underemployed), you are required to report gross earnings for each week you work and certify for benefits. You must report your total gross earnings (before your taxes are taken out), for the week in which you performed the work, NOT the week in which you received the payment.

Other reasons that you could have earnings include vacation pay, pension or retirement, bonus pay, holiday pay or severance pay.

When certifying each week online or by phone, be sure to answer yes when asked if you worked during a specific week. Then report your total earnings (gross pay) before deductions.

Log into your MiWAM account and select your Claim ID number. Review the MiWAM Toolkit for more on how to navigate MiWAM.

Discontinue certifying (reporting) through MiWAM or by phone through MARVIN the week you return to full-time work. Once you stop certifying, your claim will close. Later, if you become unemployed or underemployed, you can file a claim via telephone at 1-866-500-0017 or through your MIWAM account.