February's Issue:
- MiUI Go Live: Go Time!
- 5 steps for Go Live prep
- New MiUI training & resources page
- Public Act 238 Guide
- Scam alert from LARA
- UIA offers interactive seminars
- Featured UIA video
- Advisor's new look
Important reminders:
- Quarterly reports were due Jan. 26, 2026. If you didn’t pay on time, penalty and interest may be applied to your account. Read more.
- As of January 1, 2026, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit program is currently facing a lapse in authorization. The WOTC program was authorized by Congress until December 31, 2025. Michigan will continue to receive applications, retain submissions, post mark dates and hold them until the WOTC program has been reauthorized by Congress.
- View past issues of the Employer Advisor.
This month's tip:
- With the UIA’s Apportionment Program, employers can spread unemployment insurance tax payments out over a full year without penalty or interest. Read more.
UI data trends:
- The UIA Trust Fund's balance stands at more than $2.8 billion.
- For the week ending Jan. 31, 2026, nearly 9,000 unemployment claims were filed.
- Find out more about unemployment trends and other data by visiting the Economic Dashboard.
Questions:
MiUI Go-Live Time: 2/23!
Valued UIA partners,
We’re just 10 days away from the February 23 Go Live for MiUI for Tax!
Thank you for your continued support as we transition to this modern, user-friendly system.
We look forward to working with you to ensure a smooth and successful launch.
Key resources
Read the latest MiUI Minute Newsletter
Scheduled MiWAM Downtime
- MiWAM will be unavailable from 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18 through Sunday, Feb. 22. Complete any required unemployment insurance activities before this period to avoid disruptions.
- Feb. 23 Go Live: MiUI will be live for tax functions. MiWAM access will resume but will be limited to benefits functions only.
Check out the MiUI Toolkit
5 things to do before Go Live
- Confirm your system administrator(s) and all users have a MiLogin for Business account.
- Verify access to MiWAM and note your MiUI Activation Code for account setup.
- Review and update contact information, payment methods, and user permissions in MiWAM.
- Check TPA-Employer associations and role assignments for MiUI.
- Review MiUI wage report file formats and test files using the Wage Report File Validation Tool.
Need assistance before or after Go Live?
Study up at MiUI University
New MiUI Training & Resources page!
The UIA has heard from several of our valued partners that they’d like an easier way to navigate MiUI University and find training content and other resources. We hear you — and we’ve delivered!
Introducing the new MiUI Training & Resources page: your go-to hub for learning materials and helpful guides, organized by topic for easy access.
On this new page, you can:
- Get a general overview of MiUI
- Learn how to register and log in for new accounts
- Find out how to activate and add users
- Update owners/officers
- Manage associations
- Make tax payments
- Create and submit a WOTC application
- Adjust and submit a wage report
- …and much more!
Public Act 238: What you should know
Senate Bill 962 (Public Act 238 of 2024) was signed into law on Jan. 17, 2025. The state law updates several unemployment rules to enhance service and efficiency.
The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) will implement these changes on Friday, July 17, 2026, to improve services for both employers and workers.
What employers and TPAs should know:
- Work Share Program: Employers can reduce hours by 10%–60% (currently 15%–45%) while employees receive partial unemployment benefits.
- Domestic violence exception: Employees leaving due to domestic violence may qualify for benefits without employer liability (proof required).
- Consolidated hearings: Related unemployment issues can be combined into one hearing for faster resolution and UIA/Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (MOAHR) collaboration.
What unemployed workers/claimants should know:
- Work search: Claimants must complete 3 job searches per week (up from the current 1) to certify for benefits.
- Hardship & waivers: UIA will review financial hardship for claimants before recovering benefits overpayments, ensuring a fair collections process.
More details on these changes will be shared in upcoming editions of the UIA Employer Advisor and posted on the UIA website.
MOAHR Website
PA 238
Appeals Hearing Guide
Scam alert for employers from LARA
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs will never ask you to provide your credit card numbers or other personal information over the phone, by text, email, or letter.
Recently, businesses have reported receiving fraudulent notices titled "Annual Statement 2025 Past Due" from “Business Filing powered by Firstep" or New Business Filing LLC, requesting $300 and personal information. This is not from LARA.
Please see LARA’s IT Security & Data Protection page for more information on how to identify scams and report suspicious activity.
Learn, prepare, succeed: Seminars available to employers and TPAs
The UIA’s Office of the Employer Ombudsman hosts Employer Seminars year-round to help make your interactions with UIA positive and productive.
These sessions answer questions about unemployment and tax-related issues and include online demonstrations of MiUI.
Seminars are open to both employers and Third-Party Administrators (TPAs). They provide guidance to prepare your organization for success.
Through Feb. 26, employers and TPAs can join MiUI-focused seminars designed to walk you through the new system.
Sign up here
Watch: Featured UIA Video
This month's featured UIA YouTube video is called the "Employer Help Center Walkthrough."
This will help employers and TPAs understand all the support and resources the Help Center offers. Find more on UIA's YouTube channel.
Watch the video
Thank you for your feedback!
We’re thrilled to introduce the Employer Advisor Newsletter’s new look — inspired by your feedback!
Your input guided the updates you see today, from the design to the overall experience. Have more ideas? We’d love to hear them!
Send us an email
