General Questions Before Filing

Are unemployment benefits taxable?

Yes. You will receive a 1099-G. You have the option to have taxes withheld.

Can I collect benefits if I'm laid off from my family owned business?

If you work for a sole proprietorship owned by your spouse or child, or owned by your parent or parents (if you are under age 18), then you cannot draw unemployment benefits based on that work.
If you work for a partnership comprised solely of your spouse or children, or comprised solely of your parents (if you are under age 18), then you cannot draw unemployment benefits based on that work, either.
A family member who works for a family corporation is covered by unemployment benefits. In order to receive benefits, both the employer and the claimant must disclose to UIA the claimant's relation to the business owners.

How do I apply for unemployment insurance benefits?

The fastest and preferred method is to file for unemployment insurance benefits online using the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM). You must first sign in to MILogin to access or create a MiWAM account. For step by step instructions, view the MiWAM Toolkit for Claimants. You may also file by phone at 1-866-500-0017. If you are hearing impaired, TTY service is available at 1-866-366-0004.

You will need to create a new MILogin for Citizens account before you can create or access your MiWAM account. If you have already created a MILogin account through another department, you simply need to log in and link your MiWAM account before you can access your MiWAM account. You will need to use your personal email address for MILogin for Citizens.

How do I qualify for unemployment benefits?

Qualifying requirements - To determine if you have enough wages to qualify for benefits, UIA first looks at what is called your Standard Base Period. The standard base period includes the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters prior to when you filed your claim. The four calendar quarters in a year are: January - March; April - June; July - September; and October - December.

You must have at least one quarter in which you earned a minimum of $3,830.00.
You must have wages in at least two calendar quarters in the base period.
Your total base period wages must equal 1.5 times your highest quarter wages.
If you do not meet the wage requirements based on your standard base period, the UIA will consider your wages in the "alternate" base period, which is the four most recently completed calendar quarters.

If you don't meet the wage requirement in either the Standard Base period or the Alternate Base period, you may still be able to qualify for benefits using the Alternate Earnings Qualifier (AEQ). This means:
You must have wages in at least two quarters;
Total wages for all four quarters must equal at least 20 times the state average weekly wage (SAWW). For 2022, the AEQ amount is $23,275.80 [20 x $1,163.79 (SAWW) = $23,275.80].

How long does it take for by benefits to become available after I file?

Although circumstances may vary, individuals should expect their first payment about three weeks after they file their claim. Subsequent payments are released every two weeks after the individual certifies. The day or time of day in which a claim is filed will not impact whether a worker receives benefits or their benefit amount.

Claimants must certify (report) every two weeks that they are eligible for benefits. After the first certification (which is done during the third week of unemployment) they will receive their payment in about 2-3 days, but can vary depending on circumstances. Certification can be done using a person’s MIWAM account and/or by phone by MARVIN.

How many weeks can I collect unemployment?

To calculate the number of weeks of unemployment you may be entitled to:

Multiply your total base period wages by 43% (0.4)
Divide the result in step 1 by your Weekly Benefit Amount
Round down to the nearest half-week. The result is the number of weeks you may receive benefits. The maximum is 20 weeks and the minimum is 14 weeks.

How much will I be paid if I qualify for unemployment benefits?

Your weekly benefit amount (WBA) is determined by your quarterly wages. The amount your receive in unemployment benefits is calculated by multiplying the highest amount of wages paid to you in any base period quarter by 4.1 percent. The maximum benefit payment you can receive is $362.

What are the penalties for fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits?

It is against state law to intentionally make false statements or conceal material information to gain or avoid the payment of benefits. You may have to repay up to 1.5 times the amount of benefits received. Benefits will be stopped an any remaining benefits will be lost. You may also be subject to criminal prosecution. If prosecuted, you may be required to pay court costs and fines, face jail time, perform community service or any combination of these.

For more information about your rights and responsibilities, refer to Unemployment Benefits in Michigan Handbook found on this website.

What if I don't know my EAN or FIEN?

You can find your employers federal employer identification number (FEIN) on your W-2 form.

What information will I need to apply for benefits?

You will need:

Social security number,
Your state issued driver’s license or ID card number
The names and addresses of employers you worked for during the past 18 months, along with your quarterly gross earnings
The dates (first and last day of employment) with each employer.
Your most recent employer’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) account number or Federal ID number. Providing the account number may speed up the processing of your claim. The employer’s Federal ID number appears on your annual W-2 form).
If you are not a U.S. citizen or national, you will need your Alien Registration number and the expiration date of your work authorization.

For more information about filing for benefits, view Fact Sheet 160, Claiming Unemployment Benefits in Michigan.

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General Questions Before Filing