While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Unemployment Insurance is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. Unemployment Insurance is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own.
Learn more about Unemployment on Michigan’s Unemployment Program Overview page here.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits are weekly payments given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments are typically provided via direct deposits to the beneficiary’s bank account.
Learn more about how Unemployment Insurance payments work here.
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Michigan you must:
You can learn more about Michigan’s requirements to qualify for Unemployment Insurance here.
Apply for benefits online here during the week you lost your job or up to 28 days after the day of the layoff or when your hours have been reduced.
Learn more information about applying for Unemployment Insurance here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Michigan, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Michigan’s Unemployment claim portal.
You must file on the specific day that coordinates with your last name. See the filing schedule for online applications below:
| Last Name | Online Day to File |
|---|---|
| A - L | Monday, Wednesday or Friday |
| M - Z | Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday |
To apply for Unemployment Insurance over the phone, call (866) 500-0017.
See the filing schedule for phone applications below:
| Last Name | Online Day to File |
|---|---|
| A - L | Monday or Wednesday |
| M - Z | Tuesday or Thursday |
When filing by phone, note that Friday and Saturday are open to anyone who may have missed their designated filing days.
For more information about the application process, click here.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency between the hours of 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM Monday through Friday or between 7:00 AM and 2:00 PM on Saturday at:
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for in Michigan. To determine how much an applicant will receive in Unemployment Benefits each week, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) takes your highest quarter earnings and multiplies it by .041. Then, it adds $6 for each dependent up to 5 total dependents.
The maximum weekly benefit amount is $362.
Learn more about Michigan’s base period and how benefits are calculated on page 10 of the Unemployment Benefits handbook here.
Once you have completed your unemployment benefits claim, you will receive the Monetary Determination form (UIA 1575C) to fill out. The form will indicate:
This form will also be sent to all your employers (last and past ones), who have 10 days to respond. After that time is completed, you will receive your first payment to cover for the first two weeks of unemployment since you filed your claim.
Unlike many other U.S. states, Michigan does not have a waiting week. Instead, claimants will be eligible for benefits on the week they lost their job. Unlike other states, in Michigan you can apply for unemployment benefits up to 28 days after the layoff.
If you are considered eligible, your payments will be backdated to the moment you became unemployed. Certification applications must be filed every two weeks to continue receiving unemployment benefits. You can find Michigan’s claimant portal here.
Learn more about the Bi-Weekly Certification Process on page 20 of this handbook.
Keep track of your work-search contacts. You are required to make at least two contacts per week to receive payments and waiting week credit.
If you were discharged or quit your last job, expect a call (or email if that is your preferred contact method) to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance.
You can learn more about what to expect after applying on page 11 of the handbook here.
You must file a Bi-Weekly Certification Application every other week you are receiving Unemployment Benefits until you are employed again. This bi-weekly claim is like a follow-up application that certifies your continued eligibility for the program, and proves you are actively applying for new jobs.
Learn more about the Bi-Weekly Certification Application on page 11 of this handbook. File your Bi-Weekly Certification Applications here.
It’s important to remember that your Unemployment benefits could be delayed or denied if you do not file your bi-weekly claim.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You must submit your appeal to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity within 30 days of the mail date of the Notice of Determination (denial).
You can send the application form in the Notice of Determination and submit either by mail or fax to the address or fax number included in the notice.
To file an appeal online, log into your MiWAM account and click on your Claim ID. Then, click on "Determination Status,” then “File an Appeal.” If you wish to upload supporting documents, click “Add.”
To file an appeal via email, use the Appeal Form provided by the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission. You must use Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge to access this form; Internet Explorer is not supported.
If you have questions with your appeal or need help filing, visit the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission’s website.
If you have general questions about Michigan Unemployment Benefits, call the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency’s customer service center at (866) 500-0017.
Contact your local Unemployment Office or visit an office in person. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
Find answers to other topics related to Unemployment Insurance on the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency’s FAQs page here.
The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency is available between the hours of 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM Monday through Friday or between 7:00 AM and 2:00 PM on Saturday, except for observed holidays listed here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
If you have general questions about Michigan Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency’s customer service center at 1 (866) 500-0017.
You can chat with a live agent through the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) once you have applied for Unemployment Insurance using the online portal here. The chat is available Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
The Unemployment Insurance Agency phone lines are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM, and on Saturday between 7:00 AM and 2:00 PM, except for observed holidays listed here.
You may need to contact your local unemployment office for specific application questions or assistance. Find contact information for all unemployment offices in Michigan below. Or, go to Michigan’s local office page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Benton Harbor | 401 8th St., Benton Harbor, MI 49022 | 269-927-1799 |
| Detroit | 3024 W. Grand Blvd., Suite L-385, Detroit, MI 48202 | 313-456-2400 |
| Gaylord | 931 Otsego Avenue, Gaylord, MI 49735 | 866-500-0017 |
| Grand Rapids | 3391 Plainfield NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 | 616-361-3200 |
| Kalamazoo | 1601 South Burdick St., Kalamazoo, MI 49001 | 269-383-2536 |
| Lansing | 5217 Perry Robinson Circle, Lansing, MI 48911 | 866-500-0017 |
| Marquette | 1498 O'Dovero Dr., Ste 2, Marquette, MI 49855 | 906-228-3075 |
| Muskegon | 2700 Baker St., Muskegon Heights, MI 49444 | 866-500-0017 |
| Saginaw | 515 N. Washington Ave., Suite 100, Saginaw, MI 48607 | 866-500-0017 |
| Sterling Heights | 43015 Hayes Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48313 | 866-500-0017 |
| Saul Ste. Marie | 1118 East Easterday Ave., Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783 | 906-635-1752 |
| Traverse City | 1209 South Garfield Avenue, Suite CTraverse City, MI 49686 | 231-922-3700 |
To find more information on Michigan Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim online or by phone:
Find answers to other questions related to Unemployment Insurance in the handbook here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Michigan, complete the following three steps:
Learn what documents and information you need here.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Michigan’s Unemployment claim portal.
You must file on the specific day that coordinates with your last name. See the filing schedule for online applications below:
| Last Name | Online Day to File |
|---|---|
| A - L | Monday, Wednesday or Friday |
| M - Z | Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday |
To apply for Unemployment Insurance over the phone, call 1 (866) 500-0017. If you are deaf or have trouble hearing, call the TTY line at 1 (866) 366-0004.
See the filing schedule for phone applications below:
| Last Name | Day to Call |
|---|---|
| A - L | Monday or Wednesday |
| M - Z | Tuesday or Thursday |
When filing by phone, note that Friday and Saturday are open to anyone who may have missed their designated filing days.
For more information about the application process, click here.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency between the hours of 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM Monday through Friday or between 7:00 AM and 2:00 PM on Saturday at:
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance, you can check the status of your claim by logging into your MiWAM account. Select your Claim ID number from the list.
The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit. However, unlike many other U.S. states, Michigan does not have a waiting week. Instead, claimants will be eligible for benefits on the week they lost their job.
Unlike other states, in Michigan you can apply for unemployment benefits up to 28 days after the layoff.
If you are considered eligible, your payments will be backdated to the moment you became unemployed. Certification applications must be filed every two weeks to continue receiving unemployment benefits. You can find Michigan’s claimant portal here.
Learn more about the Bi-Weekly Certification Application on page 11 of this handbook.
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You must submit your appeal to the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity within 30 days of the mail date of the Determination.
You can send the application form in the Notice of Determination and submit either by mail or fax to the address or fax number included in the notice.
To file an appeal online, log into your MiWAM account and click on your Claim ID. Then, click on "Determination Status,” then “File an Appeal.” If you wish to upload supporting documents, click “Add.”
You can also use the Appeal Form provided by the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission to also file an appeal online. You must use Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Edge to access this form; Internet Explorer is not supported.
If you have questions with your appeal or need help filing, visit the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Commission’s website.
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency at (866) 500-0017.
You can also visit or call a local Unemployment Office for further assistance. Find your nearest Unemployment Office location and contact information here.
The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency is available between the hours of 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM Monday through Friday or between 7:00 AM and 2:00 PM on Saturday, except for observed holidays listed here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.