Work Search

While claiming unemployment benefits, you must be:

• Able to work.
• Available for work.
• Actively seeking work unless you are waived from seeking work.

You must actively search for work and submit a record of your work search activities to be eligible for benefits. You are required to conduct at least one work search activity in each week that you certify for benefits. You must submit your work search activities at the time you certify. Benefits will not be paid until you have reported the details of your work search activity for each week you are requesting payment.

You must accept an offer of suitable work based on your skills, abilities, and other factors for your occupation such as the prevailing wage rate in your local labor market. If there are limited jobs in your occupation or geographical area, you may have to expand your work search. For example, you may have to consider looking for a job in a different field or location.

If you do not have good cause for refusing to accept an offer of suitable work, you will be disqualified for benefits and may be required to repay benefits you received.

Yes. UIA can request to verify your work search activities at any point during your claim. If your activities are found to be incomplete or inaccurate, you may be ineligible and have to pay back benefits. Save all confirmation emails or documentation to prove your work search activity. This information should be retained for up to 2 years.

When you certify online using MiWAM, you'll need to report at least one work search activity per week to be eligible for benefits. Questions about your work search will be included with your regular certification questions. Enter the details of your Work Search Activity for Week 1 and Week 2.

Include the following information:

• the name and date of the work search activity,
• name and address of employer/organization/website
• the name and date of the job fair or workshop you attended
• the method of contact (online, in person, email, etc.)

When you certify for benefits with MARVIN, after completing the certification questions, you must remain on the line to be connected with an agent and provide your work search information. You must report at least one job search activity per week into MiWAM in order to be eligible for benefits. 

Include the following information:

• the date of contact,
• the type of activity (submitted application, checked resource at employment agency, attended job fair, etc.)
• name of employer/organization/search engine
• employer address/online location
• method of contact (online, in person, email, etc.)

If you do not complete the required work search on any given week, you will not be eligible for benefits for that week. A work search activity must be completed in each week that you are paid benefits. There is also no good cause given for failing to complete a work search activity. If you do not conduct a work search activity in a particular week, you will not be eligible for payment in that week. If you miss a work search activity in any week, it cannot be made up.

Work search activities include, but are not limited to:

• Applying for jobs in person or online
• Creating a profile or resume on a professional networking or job site such as MiTalent.org
• Participating in online job search workshops or seminars
• Attending job fairs or employment workshops
• Utilizing other reemployment websites such as Indeed or LinkedIn.

Contacts can be made by email, online, virtual meetings, or fax. Be sure to keep copies of confirmation pages and or e-mail records for online and e-mail work search efforts.

Applying for the same position within a 4-week period, or contacting an employer to determine whether a position is available, or simply browsing online job boards are not valid work search activities. You must submit an official job application or request for work in order for it to be considered valid.

Temporary Layoff - Registration and Seeking Work Waiver

If you are expected to return to full-time work with your employer within 45 days from the date you filed or reopened your claim, your employer can request that you be waived from the work search requirements. The employer is required to request this waiver before laying off workers.  If an employer has requested and been approved for a 45-day waiver, your Monetary Determination will state that you have been waived from the work search requirement.

Temporary Layoff - Short-Term Waiver

If you are laid off and expect to return to work within 15 days of your layoff date, you can apply for a work search waiver at the time you file your claim.  If approved, your Monetary Determination will state that you have been waived from the work search requirement. 

Training Waiver

If you are in school attending an approved course of study, you may qualify for a training waiver which also waives the work search requirement.  To apply for a training waiver, you must contact a Michigan Works! Office.  Michigan Works will assist you with the application submission to UIA.  If approved, the work search requirement will be waived.

All claimants are required to complete a weekly work search in order to receive benefits unless the requirement is waived.