New Unemployment Law Changes

Beginning the week of July 19, 2026, you will be required to complete at least 3 work searches each week to continue receiving benefits. (Currently, you must complete 1 work search activity each week.) Once you complete your work searches and weekly certification, your benefits can be processed. Continue to follow your normal reporting schedule.

As part of the bi-weekly process to certify for benefits, people who receive unemployment benefits must look for work and report their work searches to UIA. If you fail to submit your completed work search activities during your certification week, your benefits will not be paid. 

Work Search FAQ

MiWAM makes logging your work searches quick and easy. You can log your work searches and certify your eligibility anytime — it’s available online 24 hours a day, seven days a week — so you can take care of it whenever it is convenient for you.

Find out more about work search and different work search activities.

Handbook for Unemployed Workers

The bipartisan law passed in December 2024 provides more support for people affected by domestic violence. Beginning on July 17, 2026, if you had to leave your job due to domestic violence or for the safety of a member of your household, you may qualify for unemployment benefits. This important change restores protections that were temporarily available during the pandemic and helps ensure you get support when it's needed most.

FAQ on the Domestic Violence Victim Exception Español | عربي | বাঙালি | 中文

Benefits will be charged to the nonchargeable benefits account — not an employer’s experience account. An experience account tracks taxes paid in, benefits paid out, and an employer’s history of layoffs. The lower the experience rating, the lower the tax rate.

Employers who participate in the Work Share Program will have more flexibility when faced with reducing employee hours. Beginning July 19, 2026, employers can reduce weekly hours between 10 percent and 60 percent to qualify for Work Share. The current range is 15 percent to 45 percent.

Work Share allows employers to keep their employees working reduced hours while they collect partial unemployment benefits that can help replace some of their lost income.

Starting July 17, 2026, if you need to appeal certain decisions, the law will allow for a faster, more streamlined process to resolve multiple issues on a claim. Instead of attending multiple hearings, you can request to have related issues combined into one hearing before an administrative law judge from the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (MOAHR). If approved, this is a more efficient way to resolve issues for employers and those receiving benefits.

To take advantage of this option, you can choose to consolidate cases when filing an appeal through in MiWAM or fill out and return a form that will be available on Michigan.gov/UIA.

Find out more about Protests and Appeals

Beginning July 17, 2026, you will have more flexibility in filing for financial hardship waivers if you have an overpayment and can't afford to repay it. Under the law changes, you will be able to apply for up to four waivers per year, instead of the current one waiver request every six months. This change gives you more opportunities to qualify for relief.  

To determine financial hardship, the household income calculation will not include unemployment benefits received. Cash assets count toward a waiver decision only if you have more than $100,000 in a checking or savings account, not including wages reported during the period.

Anyone who files for a financial hardship waiver and is denied can protest or appeal UIA's decision. Collections will not begin until all protest and appeal rights are exhausted.

The administrative error waiver will apply from the date the administrative or clerical waiver occurred. If that cannot be determined, it would apply from the first day of the first week that improper payments were made.

The incorrect wage reporting waiver will apply 30 days after the incorrect wage information was reported to UIA. 

Anyone who files either of these waivers and is denied can protest or appeal UIA's decision. Collection of debt cannot begin before all waiver appeal or protest rights have been exhausted.

Other law changes bring stronger financial support for those receiving unemployed benefits. The weekly maximum benefit rate increased in 2025 and 2026, as did the maximum number of weeks you can receive benefits from 20 to 26, giving workers more time and stability while they get back on their feet.

Benefit increase details:

• The next benefit rate increase goes into effect Jan. 1, 2027, when it will increase from the current $530 to $614.
• The dependent rate will also increase on Jan. 1, 2027, from the current $19.99 to $26, for up to five dependents.
• Beginning on Jan. 1, 2028, and for the years that follow, any change in the maximum weekly benefit rate is tied to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index and will be set by the State Treasurer.

Find out more about Eligibility Requirements.

Handbook for Unemployed Workers