Contact: Jason Moon 517-282-0041

Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency has announced a goal to clear its backlog and make a determination on all eligible unpaid claims filed before May 1st. For the 11,824 workers who applied prior to May 1st and are still awaiting a decision on eligibility, the agency will pay out benefits, determine that the claimant is ineligible and communicate why, or deem the claimant unreachable after multiple attempts to make contact. Unpaid claims filed before May 1st represent only 0.5% of all claims.

 

“Our goal is to have every unemployment claim filed before May 1st resolved by the end of next week,” said UIA Director Steve Gray. “While most of our eligible workers have been paid, the unprecedented number of claims during this crisis means that there are still tens of thousands of real Michiganders needing one-on-one review to pay benefits. We know COVID-19 continues to cause fear and frustration for these families and we are working around the clock and enhancing our resources to quickly eliminate the remaining backlog and get every worker the emergency financial assistance they’re entitled to.”

 

The UIA also provided a detailed update on unemployment claims related to COVID-19 in Michigan. Since March 15, 2.2 million eligible claimants have applied for state and federal benefits, with over $14.3 billion in benefits paid to over 2 million workers. 94.5% of eligible claimants have received or are approved for benefits. Of the remaining unpaid claimants, most are flagged for potential impostor fraud. Currently, 90,000 unpaid claims are flagged as potentially fraudulent while 33,000 unpaid claims are held pending adjudication for other reasons.

 

The UIA has made adjustments to its claims processing system to more efficiently adjudicate claims, but in many instances, the agency still needs additional information from the claimant before a determination can be made. For eligible unpaid claimants, the agency will make attempts to contact them if needed. There remains a path for individuals to protest any determination made by the agency on their claim.

 

The agency will soon announce a target date to make a determination on claims filed after May 1st.

 

 

 

 

UIA Data March 15 – June 23, 2020
$14.3B	Benefits paid
2,390,433	Total unique* claimants (State and Federal)
114,771	Claimants determined currently ineligible for benefits
21,913	Claimants who have not certified
2,253,749	Total unique potentially eligible claims with certification
2,129,785	Claimants paid at least once
94.5%	Percent paid at least once
90,474	Claimants unpaid due to ID verification
33,485	Claimants unpaid due to other non-monetary issues
5.5%	Percent not paid

 

 

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.