General Questions After Filing

Unemployed workers filing a new claim for benefits are required to register for work with Michigan Works! staff and verify their registration with either an in-person or virtual appointment.

To register for work, claimants must complete the following two steps:

·  First, visit MiTalent.org to create a job seeker profile on Pure Michigan Talent Connect.

·  Second, meet with staff from a local Michigan Works! Service Center either virtually or in person at least one business day before the first certification (claimants must certify bi-weekly that they are eligible for benefits).

Claimants will receive an email confirmation when registration is complete and verified. If claimants don't meet with Michigan Works! Service Center staff to verify their registration it could prevent and/or delay the payment of unemployment benefits.

You can request to change tax withholdings and/or exemptions through MiWAM: 

1. Go to the involved benefit year, Claim Tab- Attributes Subtab. Click the Edit Button.
2. Update the “withhold taxes” and “exemption” fields with the correct information.
3. Save  
4. Add a note under the CRM Tab indicating why the change was made.

You may also change tax withholdings in MiWAM:  

1. Log into MiWAM.
2. Click on the Claimant Services tab.
3. Click on Update Withholdings.

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.

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.

If a claimant indicates, in error, that they are not a citizen at the time of filing: 

• You must submit proof of citizenship. To do so, submit 1 of 3 documents:

1. US passport
2. Naturalization document
3. US birth certificate 

• File a protest of the denied claim from the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). You have the right to protest or appeal during the claim review process if you disagree with the UIA's determinations for eligibility on your claim. For more information on protest and appeals, visit our protest and appeals homepage.

Misrepresentation must be investigated when a claimant provides information that conflicts with information the Agency possesses. 

• For example; Claimant files a claim stating they were laid off but their employer states they quit or the claimant had earnings in a week they claimed benefits but the claimant did not report it to MARVIN.

The issue can have three results:

1. None found
2. Unintentional
3. Intentional (fraud)

The claimant may be required to pay back some or all benefits received.

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.

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.

There are a number of resources available, including:

• Call 211 or visit 211.org for United Way's connection to free community services.
• Visit MiBridges to apply for benefits like housing, WIC, food and healthcare.
• Visit Helping Hand for resources on jobs, healthcare, housing and family support.
• Visit MDHHS for information on different assistance programs like food, healthcare and more.

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

• Chat online with an agent 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. 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.

Please upload your forms or documents to you MiWAM account, or they can be mailed to the UIA at:

UIA, PO BOX 169

Grand Rapids MI, 49501-0169

or fax forms or documents to Unemployment at 517-636-0427.

Note: You may only drop off documents if you have a scheduled appointment. You may not drop off documents without an appointment. 

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.