Skip to main content
UIA Advocacy Program for Claimants and Employers

UIA Advocacy Program for Claimants and Employers

For both claimants and employers, the Advocacy Program offers no-cost assistance to those who qualify for help with protest hearings before an Administrative Law Judge with the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (MOAHR).

If approved for services, Michigan claimants and employers select their own Advocate from a statewide network of qualified independent contractors.  Advocates are not UIA employees, they are independent contractors who agree through their UIA contract to follow the advocacy program standards. The Advocates are not required to be attorneys.

If you are interested in Advocacy assistance, contact the Advocacy Program after you have received a Notice of Hearing. Advocacy assistance must be requested no later than two business days before the hearing. Failure to timely secure an Advocate is not sufficient reason to reschedule a hearing.

 

Advocacy Assistance: 1-800-638-3994 | UIAAdvocacy@Michigan.gov | Advocacy Brochure
Advocacy Assistance Video

Advocacy Assistance

UIA staff will provide general information about how the Advocacy Program works and a list of advocates that a claimant or employer can choose from if approved for services.

Video Transcript

Representation

Advocates will accompany and represent the claimant or employer at the hearing. Hearings are generally conducted by phone but may also be in-person.

Consultation regarding specific cases

Advocates will consult with claimants or employers regarding the merit and preparation of their cases. If the Advocate believes that the case has no merit, the Advocate will, prior to the scheduled hearing, provide the claimant or employer with a written explanation. Otherwise, the Advocate will provide representation, except for cases specifically excluded, at the scheduled hearing.

Advocacy services are not provided for the following cases:

  • Labor Disputes
  • Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA)
  • Interstate Filed Claims
  • SUTA (State Unemployment Tax Act) Dumping
  • Monetary (Re)Determinations
  • Redetermination of Charges
  • Employer Non-Responsive Cases
  • Specific cases that only involve the claimant and UIA, for example, registration and certification cases.

Your Advocate will inform you during the consultation if your case is excluded because of:

  • Admitted disqualifying acts
  • Reasonable assurance (Denial Period) issues
  • Simple mathematical interest and interest and penalty calculation disputes
  • Willful neglect
  • Benefit and liability cases without merit
  • Multi-claimant cases

Other Considerations

Geographic Locations: The Advocacy Program is a statewide program but is not available for Interstate Benefit cases. While every effort is made to recruit sufficient numbers of Advocates to meet local needs, some geographic areas, from time to time, may not have as many Advocates as the demand requires.

Program Limitations: The Advocacy Program is designed to assist eligible claimants or employers, but it is not an entitlement and is limited by the availability of Advocates, time constraints, and funding which is determined by state appropriation. 

Other Representation: If a claimant or employer obtains and pays for their own representation, they will not be reimbursed  and the representative or attorney will not be paid through the Advocacy Program. (Dues paid to a trade association, nonprofit organization or labor organization will not disqualify an employer from receiving advocacy services.)