Skip to main content
Michigan Header Logo
LEO Labor and Economic Opportunity
Michigan Header Logo Michigan Header Logo
Labor and Economic Opportunity
  • Bureaus & Agencies
    Bureaus & Agencies collapsed link
  • Boards, Commissions & Councils
    Boards, Commissions & Councils collapsed link
  • LEO Initiatives
    LEO Initiatives collapsed link
  • About
    About collapsed link
  • News from LEO Agencies
Bureaus & Agencies
Go to Bureaus & Agencies
  • Bureau of Employment Relations
  • Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
  • Michigan Career & Technical Institute
  • Michigan Economic Development Corporation
  • Community & Worker Economic Transition Office
  • Michigan High-Speed Internet Office
  • Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • Michigan Rehabilitation Services
  • Michigan State Housing Development Authority
  • Office of Global Michigan
  • Office of Mobility and Electrification
  • Office of Rural Prosperity
  • State Land Bank Authority
  • Unemployment Insurance Agency
  • Workers' Disability Compensation Agency
  • Workforce Development
Bureau of Employment Relations
Go to Bureau of Employment Relations

  • Michigan Employment Relations Commission
  • Wage and Hour
Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
Go to Bureau of Services for Blind Persons

Bureau of Services for Blind Persons

  • Broad Overview
  • BSBP Local Offices
  • BSBP Office Information
  • DeafBlind Services
  • Documents and Reports
  • Transition Programs
  • BSBP Advisory Commission
  • BSBP Resources
  • BSBP Training Center
  • BSBP Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Business Enterprise Program
  • Independent Living Services for Seniors
  • Pre-Employment Transition Services
  • Braille and Talking Book Library
Michigan Career & Technical Institute
Go to Michigan Career & Technical Institute

Michigan Career & Technical Institute

  • MCTI Locations
  • Business
  • Student Resources
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Go to Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Community & Worker Economic Transition Office
Go to Community & Worker Economic Transition Office

Michigan High-Speed Internet Office
Go to Michigan High-Speed Internet Office

Michigan High-Speed Internet Office

  • Michigan Digital Equity and Inclusion
  • MI Connected Future
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Contact Us
Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Go to Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration

  • MIOSHA MTI Survey Page
  • About MIOSHA
  • Consultation Education and Training
  • Online Penalty Payment
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Reporting Fatalities and Injuries
  • Safety and Health Programs
  • Standards
  • Employer Assistance
  • Enforcement and Appeals
  • Topics
  • Resources
Michigan Rehabilitation Services
Go to Michigan Rehabilitation Services

Michigan Rehabilitation Services

  • MRS for Individuals
  • MRS for Students
  • MRS for Businesses
  • Calendar
  • Publications
  • Legislative Reports
  • Disability Resources
  • STEMM-Up
Michigan State Housing Development Authority
Go to Michigan State Housing Development Authority

Office of Global Michigan
Go to Office of Global Michigan

Office of Mobility and Electrification
Go to Office of Mobility and Electrification

Office of Rural Prosperity
Go to Office of Rural Prosperity

  • Events
  • Rural Readiness Program
  • Roadmap to Rural Prosperity
  • Rural Readiness Grant Program
State Land Bank Authority
Go to State Land Bank Authority

State Land Bank Authority

  • About Us
  • Partner Land Banks
  • Requests for Proposals and Qualifications
  • Reports and FAQ's
Unemployment Insurance Agency
Go to Unemployment Insurance Agency

Unemployment Insurance Agency

  • UIA Resources for Workers
  • UI Dashboard
  • UIA Resources for Employers
  • Tools & Resources
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Contact UIA
Workers' Disability Compensation Agency
Go to Workers' Disability Compensation Agency

Workers' Disability Compensation Agency

  • EDI
  • Employees' Information
  • Employers
  • Forms
  • Funds Administration
  • Health Care Services
  • Hearings and Appeals
  • Insurance Requirements
  • Resources and Reports
  • Self-Insurance
  • Vocational Rehabilitation
Workforce Development
Go to Workforce Development

Workforce Development

  • About Us
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Michigan Works!
  • Programs and Services
  • Registered Apprenticeships
  • Industry and Business
  • Workforce Professionals
  • Data and Public Notices
  • Agricultural & Foreign Labor Services
  • Education and Training
  • Veterans' Employment Services
  • Post Secondary Schools
Boards, Commissions & Councils
Go to Boards, Commissions & Councils
  • Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services
  • Michigan Employment Relations Commission
  • Black Leadership Advisory Council
  • Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs
  • Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan
  • Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission
  • Michigan Community Service Commission
  • Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification
  • Michigan Women's Commission
  • Michigan Workforce Development Board
  • MiSTEM Advisory Council and MiSTEM Network
  • Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission
  • Workers' Disability Compensation Appeals Commission
Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services
Go to Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services

  • MCRS Events
Michigan Employment Relations Commission
Go to Michigan Employment Relations Commission

Black Leadership Advisory Council
Go to Black Leadership Advisory Council

Black Leadership Advisory Council

Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs
Go to Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs

Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan
Go to Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan

Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission
Go to Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission

Michigan Community Service Commission
Go to Michigan Community Service Commission

Michigan Community Service Commission

  • About MCSC
  • Volunteer!
  • Michigan's AmeriCorps
  • Governor's Service Awards
  • Mentor Michigan
  • News, Funding & Resources
  • Afghan Arrivals
  • Youth Initiatives
Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification
Go to Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification

Michigan Women's Commission
Go to Michigan Women's Commission

Michigan Workforce Development Board
Go to Michigan Workforce Development Board

Executive Order 2020-107 established Michigan Workforce Development Board

MiSTEM Advisory Council and MiSTEM Network
Go to MiSTEM Advisory Council and MiSTEM Network

MiSTEM convenes a statewide network of leaders in education, business and local communities to empower the next generation of innovators.

  • About
  • Why STEM?
  • Our Work
  • Regional Networks
  • Get Involved
  • MiSTEM News
  • Advisory Council
  • STEM Toolbox
Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission
Go to Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission

Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission

  • Financial Hardship Waiver (Section 62(a)(ii)) En Banc Decision (Owczarski dissenting) Issued on January 31, 2024
  • Info for MOAHR
  • Digest
  • Circuit Court Decisions
Workers' Disability Compensation Appeals Commission
Go to Workers' Disability Compensation Appeals Commission

formerly MI Compensation Appellate Commission

  • Current Statistics
  • FAQ
  • Policies
  • Resources
LEO Initiatives
Go to LEO Initiatives
  • All-Access Michigan
  • Build Michigan's Infrastructure Workforce Program
  • COVID-19 Workplace Safety
  • Mental Health in the Workplace
  • MI Funding Hub
  • Resources for Businesses
  • MI Small Business
  • Michigan Poverty Task Force
  • Skills to Work
  • Youth Employment
  • Workplace Rights
All-Access Michigan
Go to All-Access Michigan

Build Michigan's Infrastructure Workforce Program
Go to Build Michigan's Infrastructure Workforce Program

COVID-19 Workplace Safety
Go to COVID-19 Workplace Safety

Mental Health in the Workplace
Go to Mental Health in the Workplace

  • Affecting the Workplace
  • In the Workplace
  • Individualized Behavior
  • Understanding the Impact
MI Funding Hub
Go to MI Funding Hub

Resources for Businesses
Go to Resources for Businesses

MI Small Business
Go to MI Small Business

Michigan Poverty Task Force
Go to Michigan Poverty Task Force

  • Opportunities for MI Nonprofits
Skills to Work
Go to Skills to Work

Youth Employment
Go to Youth Employment

Workplace Rights
Go to Workplace Rights

About
Go to About
  • Contact LEO
  • LEO Careers
  • Executive Leadership
  • Legislative Reports
Contact LEO
Go to Contact LEO

Contact for LEO divisions

LEO Careers
Go to LEO Careers

Executive Leadership
Go to Executive Leadership

Executive Leadership

  • Susan Corbin
  • Jonathan Smith
  • Stephanie Beckhorn
  • Sean Egan
  • Kim Trent
  • Jason Palmer
  • Quentin Messer
  • Amy Hovey
Legislative Reports
Go to Legislative Reports

Legislative Reports

News from LEO Agencies
Go to News from LEO Agencies
  • Bureaus & Agencies
  • Boards, Commissions & Councils
  • LEO Initiatives
  • About
  • News from LEO Agencies
Back Bureaus & Agencies
  • Bureau of Employment Relations
  • Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
  • Michigan Career & Technical Institute
  • Michigan Economic Development Corporation
  • Community & Worker Economic Transition Office
  • Michigan High-Speed Internet Office
  • Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • Michigan Rehabilitation Services
  • Michigan State Housing Development Authority
  • Office of Global Michigan
  • Office of Mobility and Electrification
  • Office of Rural Prosperity
  • State Land Bank Authority
  • Unemployment Insurance Agency
  • Workers' Disability Compensation Agency
  • Workforce Development
Back Bureau of Employment Relations
  • Michigan Employment Relations Commission
  • Wage and Hour
Back Bureau of Services for Blind Persons
  • Broad Overview
  • BSBP Local Offices
  • BSBP Office Information
  • DeafBlind Services
  • Documents and Reports
  • Transition Programs
  • BSBP Advisory Commission
  • BSBP Resources
  • BSBP Training Center
  • BSBP Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Business Enterprise Program
  • Independent Living Services for Seniors
  • Pre-Employment Transition Services
  • Braille and Talking Book Library
Back Michigan Career & Technical Institute
  • MCTI Locations
  • Business
  • Student Resources
Back Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Back Community & Worker Economic Transition Office
Back Michigan High-Speed Internet Office
  • Michigan Digital Equity and Inclusion
  • MI Connected Future
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Contact Us
Back Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  • MIOSHA MTI Survey Page
  • About MIOSHA
  • Consultation Education and Training
  • Online Penalty Payment
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Reporting Fatalities and Injuries
  • Safety and Health Programs
  • Standards
  • Employer Assistance
  • Enforcement and Appeals
  • Topics
  • Resources
Back Michigan Rehabilitation Services
  • MRS for Individuals
  • MRS for Students
  • MRS for Businesses
  • Calendar
  • Publications
  • Legislative Reports
  • Disability Resources
  • STEMM-Up
Back Michigan State Housing Development Authority
Back Office of Global Michigan
Back Office of Mobility and Electrification
Back Office of Rural Prosperity
  • Events
  • Rural Readiness Program
  • Roadmap to Rural Prosperity
  • Rural Readiness Grant Program
Back State Land Bank Authority
  • About Us
  • Partner Land Banks
  • Requests for Proposals and Qualifications
  • Reports and FAQ's
Back Unemployment Insurance Agency
  • UIA Resources for Workers
  • UI Dashboard
  • UIA Resources for Employers
  • Tools & Resources
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Contact UIA
Back Workers' Disability Compensation Agency
  • EDI
  • Employees' Information
  • Employers
  • Forms
  • Funds Administration
  • Health Care Services
  • Hearings and Appeals
  • Insurance Requirements
  • Resources and Reports
  • Self-Insurance
  • Vocational Rehabilitation
Back Workforce Development
  • About Us
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Michigan Works!
  • Programs and Services
  • Registered Apprenticeships
  • Industry and Business
  • Workforce Professionals
  • Data and Public Notices
  • Agricultural & Foreign Labor Services
  • Education and Training
  • Veterans' Employment Services
  • Post Secondary Schools
Back Boards, Commissions & Councils
  • Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services
  • Michigan Employment Relations Commission
  • Black Leadership Advisory Council
  • Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs
  • Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan
  • Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission
  • Michigan Community Service Commission
  • Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification
  • Michigan Women's Commission
  • Michigan Workforce Development Board
  • MiSTEM Advisory Council and MiSTEM Network
  • Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission
  • Workers' Disability Compensation Appeals Commission
Back Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services
  • MCRS Events
Back Michigan Employment Relations Commission
Back Black Leadership Advisory Council
Back Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs
Back Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan
Back Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission
Back Michigan Community Service Commission
  • About MCSC
  • Volunteer!
  • Michigan's AmeriCorps
  • Governor's Service Awards
  • Mentor Michigan
  • News, Funding & Resources
  • Afghan Arrivals
  • Youth Initiatives
Back Michigan Council on Future Mobility and Electrification
Back Michigan Women's Commission
Back Michigan Workforce Development Board
Back MiSTEM Advisory Council and MiSTEM Network
  • About
  • Why STEM?
  • Our Work
  • Regional Networks
  • Get Involved
  • MiSTEM News
  • Advisory Council
  • STEM Toolbox
Back Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission
  • Financial Hardship Waiver (Section 62(a)(ii)) En Banc Decision (Owczarski dissenting) Issued on January 31, 2024
  • Info for MOAHR
  • Digest
  • Circuit Court Decisions
Back Workers' Disability Compensation Appeals Commission
  • Current Statistics
  • FAQ
  • Policies
  • Resources
Back LEO Initiatives
  • All-Access Michigan
  • Build Michigan's Infrastructure Workforce Program
  • COVID-19 Workplace Safety
  • Mental Health in the Workplace
  • MI Funding Hub
  • Resources for Businesses
  • MI Small Business
  • Michigan Poverty Task Force
  • Skills to Work
  • Youth Employment
  • Workplace Rights
Back All-Access Michigan
Back Build Michigan's Infrastructure Workforce Program
Back COVID-19 Workplace Safety
Back Mental Health in the Workplace
  • Affecting the Workplace
  • In the Workplace
  • Individualized Behavior
  • Understanding the Impact
Back MI Funding Hub
Back Resources for Businesses
Back MI Small Business
Back Michigan Poverty Task Force
  • Opportunities for MI Nonprofits
Back Skills to Work
Back Youth Employment
Back Workplace Rights
Back About
  • Contact LEO
  • LEO Careers
  • Executive Leadership
  • Legislative Reports
Back Contact LEO
Back LEO Careers
Back Executive Leadership
  • Susan Corbin
  • Jonathan Smith
  • Stephanie Beckhorn
  • Sean Egan
  • Kim Trent
  • Jason Palmer
  • Quentin Messer
  • Amy Hovey
Back Legislative Reports
Back News from LEO Agencies
        
/leo/news/2022/04/08/uia-temporarily-pauses-new-wage-garnishments-state-tax-refund-intercepts
Back to Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

outline of the shape of Michigan state in teal color


Search is currently unavailable. Please try again later.

Popular on michigan.gov

  • Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Civil Rights
  • Environment
  • Health and Human Services
  • Natural Resources
  • Secretary of State

How Do I...

  • Register to Vote
  • Renew My License Plate
  • View assistance programs
Unsupported Browser Detected

The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. 

Supported Browsers
  • Google Chrome
  • Safari
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox

UIA temporarily pauses new wage garnishments, state tax refund intercepts for those facing federal benefits claims overpayments

  1. News from LEO Agencies

April 08, 2022

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has paused new wage garnishments and intercepts of State of Michigan tax refunds in approximately 398,000 cases where workers collected federal unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, until at least May 7 while UIA completes its review of claimant accounts that may qualify for overpayment waivers.

The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) granted the temporary pause after Governor Whitmer intervened seeking the legal authority from USDOL and Congress to hold state collections until cases could be reviewed and/or issued waivers so that eligible Michiganders are not negatively affected for following the established rules when they applied for benefits.  

“This pause on collections is one of several steps that will provide relief for many Michigan workers,” UIA Director Julia Dale said. “There will be more good news in the weeks to come for those waiting to hear about overpayment waivers. This is part of my commitment to restore public confidence in the UIA’s ability to efficiently and effectively serve Michigan’s workers and our business community.”

The collections pause involves cases where workers were told they must pay back benefits they received. About 385,000 of the total cases include overpayments under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. 

The pause applies to overpayments of federal benefits received before September 4, when the pandemic unemployment benefits programs under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and its extensions ended. Besides PUA, the CARES ACT programs included Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Mixed Earnings Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) and federal reimbursement for the first week of benefits.

During the pause, UIA will not issue new wage garnishments or intercept State of Michigan tax refunds. The pause does not stop collections activities such as existing wage garnishments, intercepting federal tax returns, deducting a percentage from current unemployment benefit payments, or recovering overpayments for other states. Collections of overpayments made before the onset of the pandemic in March 2020 will not be paused.

The pause will allow UIA to complete its review of claims, based on USDOL guidance, regarding overpayment waivers for those who received federal pandemic assistance. A decision on who qualifies for an overpayment waiver is pending while UIA tests its system processes over the next weeks to identify potential recipients. Claimants will be notified by letter and through their MIWAM accounts if they are granted an overpayment waiver. 

If UIA determines that a worker’s overpayment qualifies for a waiver, any money collected so far on the overpayment will be refunded or applied against other outstanding debts. If a waiver does not apply, the pause will be lifted and collections will resume.

Governor Whitmer has been advocating for USDOL to expand the eligibility for waivers for Michigan workers who received PUA. Governor Whitmer met with USDOL Secretary Marty Walsh to discuss the need for waivers and Director Dale met with USDOL Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Richard Cesar to advocate for waivers for Michigan’s workers. In February, the request for expanded waivers was granted.

Waivers will not be applied to claims where UIA determines fraud is involved. 

Since the start of the pandemic, the State of Michigan has been committed to helping Michiganders who have fallen on hard times. UIA worked quickly to increase the department’s capacity to address Michiganders’ unprecedented needs during a once in a lifetime global pandemic. When the federal government’s lack of clarity caused issues regarding who could receive payments, UIA successfully sought a pause on collections. When criminal enterprises tried to infiltrate UIA, the department hired former law enforcement and worked to hold bad actors accountable. A recent bipartisan supplemental will bolster these efforts until the UIA system can be modernized and upgraded to better serve Michiganders.

MI Newswire Unemployment Insurance Agency Labor and Economic Opportunity

Author:

Nick Assendelft

AssendelftN@Michigan.gov

(517) 388-3135

UIA Customer Service

866-500-0017

Related News

State Land Bank commits to support blight elimination and redevelopment in Benton Harbor

$4M in grant awards will help remove employment barriers for at-risk Michiganders

Access UIA's online resources when offices are closed for Memorial Day

Battle Creek menopause event highlights increased need for women’s mid-life care, impact on workforce

Michiganders benefit from UIA reforms inspired by pandemic-era lawsuit

Hispanic/Latino Statewide Post-Secondary Graduation celebrates 2025 graduates

Professional Trades Month spotlights high-wage, in-demand career opportunities for Michiganders

Statewide Infrastructure Workforce Plan will train 5,000 new infrastructure workers by January 2030

Employers encouraged to explore Registered Apprenticeships to build a skilled and reliable workforce

MIOSHA Marks 50 Years of Protecting Workers

Follow us

Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
UIA temporarily pauses new wage garnishments, state tax refund intercepts for those facing federal benefits claims overpayments
Copyright State of Michigan
Copyright 2025 State of Michigan Mi.gov Home Policies Accessibility Disability Resources Statewide FOIA Directory Departments
Tracking Image