UIA’s 2025 Annual Report highlights progress toward a better unemployment insurance experience in Michigan

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) today released its 2025 Annual Report highlighting its efforts to improve the unemployment experience for workers and employers across Michigan. Data-driven insights tell the transformative story of an agency committed to being a national model for fast, fair, and fraud-free service.

2025 was a year of significant change — including implementing higher weekly benefit rates, resuming overpayment collections after a court-ordered pause, completing needed renovations at Local Offices, and welcoming a new Director — and a renewed focus on the fundamentals of serving Michigan’s residents.

“Our Annual Report and public dashboards are key steps to increasing transparency of UIA’s role as an economic stabilizer. We want the people of Michigan to know where we exceed federal standards as well as where we still have work to do,” said UIA Director Jason Palmer, who marked one year in his position at the end of February. “Our goals will always be to pay eligible benefits quickly and accurately, treat employers fairly, safeguard the Trust Fund, and ensure easy access to all our services.”

One highlight of the Annual Report is a data scorecard measuring how the agency performs compared to key nationally accepted core metrics set by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Some of the data points that guide customer service at the Agency:

• 89 percent of first payments are made within 21 days, above the DOL target of 87 percent.
• An average of 24 days to resolve the first round of appeals, better than the DOL target of 30 days, and 36 days for the second round, better than DOL’s target of 40 days
• 50 percent of overpaid benefits have been identified and recovered since resuming normal collection activities, still below the DOL target of 68 percent.
• 21 percent improper payment rate, above DOL’s 10 percent target. UIA has taken substantial actions to significantly reduce its improper payment rate.
• 73 percent employment rate for those participating in reemployment services, above the 70 percent DOL target.

Other significant metrics highlighted in the Annual Report:

• 307,648 total claims approved with a total of $1.024 billion in benefits paid.
• 12.6 weeks is the average amount of time a worker was on unemployment; and only 31.6 percent of claimants received unemployment benefits for all the weeks they qualified.
• $1.14 billion in unemployment insurance taxes collected from 249,255 contributing employers.
• Just $1,100 stolen by criminals.
• 586,921 Contact Center calls; 119,719 appointments (in-person, phone, virtual, and closed-captioned); and 3.3 million unique visitors to Michigan.gov/UIA.

The public can track the agency’s performance on the UI Performs Core Metrics Dashboard on the UI Performance Metrics page at Michigan.gov/UIA. The page includes additional public dashboards that provide timely unemployment economic data and week-by-week Contact Center performance.

The Annual Report looks back at significant moments and partnerships from 2025 and also looks ahead at what’s to come in 2026 as UIA accelerates its commitment to building a better unemployment experience, connecting communities to unemployment, and advancing modernization efforts, including rolling out MiUI, a new user platform replacing the more than decade-old Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) system.

Read the 2025 Annual Report

Helpful resources available to workers

The UIA provides a variety of resources for those looking to file for unemployment or who may already be receiving benefits:

• The UIA Claimant Roadmap, which is an easy-to-follow, user-friendly six-step guide to applying for and understanding unemployment benefits. The roadmap can be accessed at Michigan.gov/UIAClaimantRoadmap.
• A new artificial intelligence-powered chatbot at Michigan.gov/UIA for quick and accurate answers to general unemployment questions. Available using either a desktop or mobile device.
• Online Coaching Sessions led by UIA staff on topics such as filing a first-time claim, understanding a Monetary Determination letter, and the protest and appeals process. The First-time Filer Coaching Session is also available in Spanish.
• A comprehensive list of resources for federal workers who have been furloughed or terminated at Michigan.gov/FederalWorkerHelp.
• The UIA Economic Dashboard, which tracks local and statewide trends in unemployment insurance at Michigan.gov/UIAEconomicDashboard.
• The innovative Employer Help Center, found at Michigan.gov/UIAEmployerHelpCenter. The plain language guide answers employers’ questions on unemployment tax and claim issues and UIA programs.
• The Advocacy Program, which provides no-cost legal advice to workers and employers who appeal UIA determinations.

Need help or have questions about a claim?

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

Search online: FAQs, videos, toolkits, and other resources at Michigan.gov/UIA.

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

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

Talk with us: 1-866-500-0017, Monday through Friday. TTY service is available by calling 1-866-366-0004.