Unemployment Online Claim Filing Kit 1

Online Claim
Filing Kit
www.michigan.gov/uia
State of Michigan
Department of Energy, Labor &
Economic Growth
UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE
AGENCY
JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM, Governor
State of Michigan
Filing for and Receiving
Unemployment Insurance Benefits
The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has made the unemployment benefit process easier
and faster. Now, you can file a new or reopened claim, complete reporting requirements and even
change benefit payment options, all online.
STANLEY “SKIP” PRUSS, Director
Department of Energy, Labor &
Economic Growth
Filing for and Receiving Benefits: Michigan’s 3-Step Process
SUSAN CORBIN, Deputy Director
Department of Energy, Labor &
Economic Growth
STEPHEN M. GESKEY, Director
Unemployment Insurance Agency
STEP 1: Filing a Claim
You can file a new claim for unemployment benefits (or reopen an established claim) by visiting the
UIA’s website at http://www.michigan.gov/uia, and click on the “File Unemployment Claims
Online” link. This service is available anytime from 7:00 AM Monday through 7:00 PM Saturday.
It may take about 30-45 minutes to file a claim online, depending on the Internet connection speed
and your preparation. By reviewing the Internet filed claims tutorial on our website (click “Agency
Webcasts” under “What’s New” or http://www.michigan.gov/uia/0,1607,7-118--213931--,00.html)
and by gathering the following information, you will save even more time by filing online.
What you need to file:
The following information is needed to file a claim:
1. Your Social Security Number,
2. Your Driver’s License Number, State Identification Number or your MARVIN PIN (if you
have one);
3. The names and addresses of employers you have worked for in the past 18 months along with
your quarterly gross earnings,
4. The last date of employment with each employer,
5. UIA recommends you have your most recent employer’s UIA account number or Federal ID
number handy (especially if you have not filed a claim within the last three years or have
been employed for less than six months). Depending on your situation, knowing the account
number may speed up the processing of your claim. (UIA Administrative Rule 421.204(3)(a)
requires the employer UIA account number be given to employees, and the employer’s
Federal ID number is on your annual W-2 form.)
6. If you are not a U.S. citizen or national, you will need your Alien Registration Number and
the expiration date of your work authorization.
7. When filing your claim, you can select your payment method – either direct deposit into your
bank account or the Michigan UI Debit Card. If you opt for direct deposit, you will need your
financial institution’s routing number and your account number.
For a detailed work-sheet on what you need to file an unemployment claim, visit UIA’s website
(www.michigan.gov/uia), click on the “FORMS” option from the upper left menu, and select Form
1538: What You Need To File An Unemployment Claim.
Once your claim is successfully entered online, a confirmation page will appear with a confirmation
number. You will also be advised of your appointment date for MARVIN (Step 3).
STEP 2: Register for Work
After your claim is filed, you must register for work by filing a resume application at the Michigan
Works! Agency service center, unless UIA has waived this requirement. To locate the nearest
Michigan Works! Agency service center, please go to www.michiganworks.org.
STEP 3: Report to MARVIN Online to Receive Benefits
In order to receive your benefits, you must report bi-weekly using MARVIN on your appointment
date given to you when you filed your claim. MARVIN is the agency’s automated benefit payment
system. Through MARVIN you certify that you are eligible for payment by answering eligibility
questions, such as are you are able, available and looking for work and do you have earnings during
Fact Sheet #127
May 2010
CADILLAC PLACE  3024 WEST GRAND BOULEVARD  DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48202
www.michigan.gov/uia  TTY: 1-866-366-0004
the two-week period for which you are reporting. To use MARVIN Online, go to www.michigan.gov/uia, and click
on the link – “Certify with MARVIN.” If you miss your appointment day, you can also certify with MARVIN
Thursday – Saturday. MARVIN is available from 7AM – 7PM, Monday - Friday, and from 7AM-3PM on most
Saturdays (except for the first Saturday of each month). You must establish a free online account with UIA through
the claim portal prior to certifying for the first time.
The Claim Portal
Another UIA online service, the claim portal, allows unemployed workers to view their benefit payment history,
certify with MARVIN and change their benefit payment options online. New features are being added. To establish
an account, go to www.michigan.gov/uia and click on the link – “UIA Online Services for Unemployed Workers.”
Benefit Duration
Unemployment benefits are usually limited to a maximum of up to 26 weeks. In 2010, there are two basic extension
programs in Michigan: Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) provides up to 53 weeks of federal benefits
through four tiers. EUC Tier I provides up to 20 more weeks, Tier II provides up to another 14 weeks, Tier III
provides up to 13 weeks and Tier IV provides up to six weeks. In addition, the Extended Benefits (EB) program
offers up to another 20 additional weeks. If you are close to exhausting your benefits and an extension program is
available at that time, UIA will automatically send you a letter stating what you need to do to continue to receive
benefits through an available extension.
Benefit Amount
Your quarterly wages largely determine the amount of your unemployment benefits. State law provides that a
worker can receive no more than $362 per week. The federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(ARRA) provides a temporary increase of $25 per week.
Severance Pay: How it Affects Unemployment Benefits
Although severance pay is not used to determine your weekly unemployment benefit, it may reduce the amount of
unemployment benefits you might receive.
Any reduction in unemployment benefits generally depends on the severance pay amount and the manner in which it
was paid. If your employer makes a lump sum severance payment and allocates the payment(s) to specific week(s),
then your weekly unemployment benefits will be reduced in each week for which the severance payment is allocated.
If, however, your employer makes a lump sum severance payment but does not allocate that payment to a week or
weeks, then the severance payment will reduce your unemployment benefits only in the week in which the lump sum
severance payment is made. For more details on severance pay, please see the attached fact sheet.
COBRA Premium Reduction
The Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides for premium reductions and
additional opportunities for health benefits for laid-off workers under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985, commonly called COBRA.
Although the UIA is not involved in this program, eligible individuals pay only 35 percent of their COBRA
premiums and the remaining 65 percent is paid for by the former employer and then reimbursed through a federal tax
credit. The premium reduction applies to periods of health coverage beginning on or after February 17, 2009, and
lasts for up to nine months. Workers should contact their former employer or their former employer’s health plan to
participate. For more information, go to the United States Department of Labor’s website at
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html.
The site is secure.
The UIA has done everything it can to make its claims taking site as secure as possible to ensure that all information
it receives from those applying for unemployment benefits is kept confidential.
Questions about the 3-Step Process?
If you have a problem or question about your new or reopened claim or your benefit payment, call the UIA at 1-866500-0017 (TTY customers use 1-866-366-0004). This toll-free line is available weekdays from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM,
except during State of Michigan holidays.
DELEG is an equal opportunity employer/program.
Auxiliary aids, services and other reasonable
accommodations are available upon request to
individuals with disabilities.
Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth
Unemployment Insurance Agency
Authority: UIA Director; Quantity: 1,000
Cost: $14 (1.4¢/copy). Paid for with federal funds.
State of Michigan
Department of Energy, Labor &
Economic Growth
UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE
AGENCY
JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM, Governor
State of Michigan
Extended Benefits in Michigan
During periods of high unemployment in a state, Extended Benefits (EB) may
become available to workers who have exhausted their regular state unemployment
insurance (UI) benefits as well as all other state and federal UI benefits.
Benefits payable through EB
ANDREW S. LEVIN, Acting Director
Department of Energy, Labor &
Economic Growth
SUSAN R. CORBIN, Deputy Director
Department of Energy, Labor &
Economic Growth
STEPHEN M. GESKEY, Director
Unemployment Insurance Agency
The basic EB program provides UI benefits for half the number of weeks that a
person received in regular UI benefits to a maximum of 13 weeks of EB. However,
on April 13, 2009, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed legislation increasing the
maximum entitlement to 20 weeks (80% of what the individual received in state
benefits). The program’s weekly benefit amount is the same as the individual
received for regular state unemployment insurance.
What triggers EB?
Whether EB can be paid is determined by a calculation called the insured
unemployment rate (IUR). The IUR is not the same as the total unemployment
rate (TUR), which reports the total number of unemployed workers in the state’s
work force. The IUR is a 13-week moving average of UI weeks of benefits claimed
divided by the number of people covered for UI. In order for EB to begin to be paid
in a state, the state’s IUR must be at least 5.0%, and the current IUR must be 20%
higher than the average rate for the same period in both of the last two years.
Once the state begins paying EB, the program remains in effect for at least 13
weeks and potentially eligible unemployed workers are notified that they may be
entitled to EB.
Michigan met the EB trigger level January 10, 2009
During the week of January 10, 2009, Michigan’s IUR surpassed 5.0 % and was
42% higher than same period for the prior two years. The week ending January 31,
2009, was the first week for which EB was payable.
State law amended April 13, 2009
The state’s UI law was amended on April 13, 2009, to include the total
unemployment rate (TUR) triggering factor. If the state TUR is at least 6.5% and is
10% higher than the average TUR for the same period in either of the last two
years, claimants are entitled to up to 13 weeks of EB. However, if the state TUR
exceeds 8.0% and is 10% higher than the average rate for the same period in either
of the last two years, claimants are entitled to receive 80% of their regular state UI
benefits or up to 20 weeks of EB. Michigan’s TUR has exceeded 8.0% since EB
payments began in January 2009.
To be eligible for EB, workers must be unemployed or underemployed and must
have exhausted their federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) on
or after January 25, 2009. However, for those who exhausted their EUC entitlement
before January 25, they must have a benefit year ending on or after January 31,
2009.
Fact Sheet #122
December 2010
CADILLAC PLACE  3024 WEST GRAND BOULEVARD  DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48202
www.michigan.gov/uia  TTY: 1-866-366-0004
Normally, EB costs are shared 50/50 between the federal government and the state. The state’s
share comes from its UI trust fund and is then charged on a prorated basis back to the
employer(s). However, the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act calls for 100% of
EB to be federally funded. Government employers and Indian Tribes and Tribal units, however,
will still be charged 100 percent for EB.
Current eligibility period
The current EB period began January 25, 2009 and will continue as long as the state meets one
of the EB trigger criteria methods.
Work Search is required
Individuals receiving EB must fulfill a stringent work search requirement in order to receive
benefits and must list the employers contacted each week. As evidence of their work search,
workers must supply the names of employers they have contacted over the prior two weeks, the
name of the individual they contacted at each business, their method of contact, type of work
they sought, and the results of their contact.
__________________________________________________________________
DELEG is an equal opportunity
employer/program. Auxiliary aids,
services and other reasonable
accommodations are available upon
request to individuals with disabilities.
Michigan Department of Energy, Labor &
Economic Growth
Unemployment Insurance Agency
Authority: UIA Director; Quantity: 1,000
Cost: $14 (1.4¢/copy). Paid for with federal funds.