Claimants can access UIA's online resources during Presidents Day holiday

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) and all state offices will be closed on Presidents Day, but claimants can still go online to certify their work searches and access a wide variety of helpful resources.

Workers can certify their job searches using the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 17. MiWAM is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even on state holidays. Log in at Michigan.gov/UIA.

Certification by calling the Michigan Automated Voice Interactive Network (MARVIN) will not be available on Presidents Day. MARVIN will be available again on Tuesday, Feb. 18, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Claimants who are scheduled to certify on Monday can instead call MARVIN on Thursday or Friday next week. Every two weeks, claimants must report their job status and whether they meet work eligibility requirements to collect benefits.

Due to Monday's state holiday there may be a slight delay in unemployment benefits being deposited into bank accounts or added to U.S. Bank debit cards.

The UIA’s 12 Local Offices, Customer Service hotline at 1-866-500-0017, and the Office of Employer Ombudsman phone line at 1-855-484-2636, Option 4, will be available again to serve Michigan residents and employers beginning Tuesday, Feb. 18.

These online resources are available to workers at any time:

• The UIA Claimant Roadmap, a six-step, user-friendly guide to applying for and understanding benefits. It can be found at Michigan.gov/UIAClaimantRoadmap.
• Online Coaching Sessions, which are web-based group sessions led by UIA staff on topics such as filing a first-time claim, understanding a Monetary Determination letter, the protest and appeals process, and seeking work and registration requirements. The First-time Filer Coaching Session is also available in Spanish.
• Phone, virtual, or in-person appointments can be scheduled up to 14 days in advance at Michigan.gov/UIA.
• Answers to frequently asked questions, toolkits, and resources can be found at Michigan.gov/UIA. Find a library of helpful instructional videos on YouTube.

• The UIA Economic Dashboard, which tracks local and statewide trends in unemployment insurance. Find it at Michigan.gov/UIAEconomicDashboard.

UIA creates solutions for Michigan workers

The many online resources for workers are part of a sweeping transformation of UIA into a national model for fast, fair, and fraud-free service. Other innovations include: 

• A new computer system, called MiUI, to replace the decade-old MiWAM that workers use to file for benefits. When implemented, MiUI will speed claim filing, provide a user-friendly interface, and add robust anti-fraud processes.
• Liaisons across Michigan to provide hands-on help for workers navigating the unemployment insurance application process through the UIA Community Connect program.
• Renovations at Local Offices in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Saginaw, and Sterling Heights to create an improved user experience and make security upgrades.
• Adding six advocates who provide free legal help through the Advocacy Program to aid workers and employers with appeals of UIA redeterminations.
• The UIA Modernization Workgroup, a coalition of thought leaders from the labor, business, and jobless advocate communities to provide insight into how UIA can better serve workers and employers.
• The Employer Help Center, a plain language guide answers employers’ questions on unemployment tax and claim issues and UIA programs. The innovative Help Center can be found at Michigan.gov/UIAEmployerHelpCenter.
• A Legal and Compliance Bureau to leverage collaborative anti-fraud practices to pursue bad actors who steal taxpayer money.
• Extending through June 2025 nearly 80 limited term employees in the Fraud and Investigations Division.
• New ethics and security clearance policies for employees and contractors.
• Partnering with the Michigan Department of Attorney General, and local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to stop fraud. Since March 2020, 166 criminals have been charged with unemployment fraud, 125 have been convicted, and 106 sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution.
• 100 percent scores on employer audits from the U.S. Department of Labor for the fifth year in a row, (2020-24), meeting the reasonable assurance of quality benchmark.
• Rebuilding the UI Trust Fund to more than $2.8 billion. Weekly benefits are paid to workers from the Trust Fund, which is supported by taxes on employers.

Need help or have questions about a claim?

Meet with an agent: Schedule an in-person, phone, or virtual meeting at Michigan.gov/UIA.

Chat with an agent: Available through MiWAM Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Call Customer Service: 1-866-500-0017, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Ask Ava: UIA’s chatbot at Michigan.gov/UIA can answer many questions.

Find answers: FAQs, videos, toolkits, and other resources at Michigan.gov/UIA.