Unemployment Insurance Agency                                    1-866-500-0017 

On December 17, 2010, the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program was extended from November 30, 2010 to January 3, 2012.

The maximum number of weeks for which the Unemployment Insurance Agency can pay state and federal unemployment benefits remains at 99 weeks. UIA now pays up to 26 weeks of state, up to 53 of EUC and up to 20 weeks of Extended Benefits(EB).

Federal Additional Compensation (FAC) payments have ended

The extra $25 per week federal supplement to unemployment benefit payments is no longer available as of December 11, 2010.

EUC to continue providing four tiers of benefits

Under the new federal EUC law, the agency will accept applications for EUC Tier I until December 31, 2011. Claims for Tiers II, III, and IV must be established   before January 7, 2012.

The EUC program will continue to provide four tiers of federally-funded benefits in Michigan to the long-term unemployed:

o Tier I – Provides up to 20 weeks of EUC benefits to those who exhaust their regular state unemployment benefits and equals 80% of a person’s regular unemployment benefits, up to 20 weeks.

o Tier II – Provides up to 14 weeks of EUC after a person exhausts EUC Tier I and equals 54% of what a person received in regular state unemployment benefits, up to 14 weeks.

o Tier III* – Provides up to 13 weeks of EUC after a person exhausts EUC Tier II and equals 50% of a person’s regular state unemployment benefits, up to 13 weeks.

o Tier IV*– Provides up to 6 weeks of EUC after a person exhausts Tier III and equals 24% of a person’s regular state unemployment benefits, up to 6 weeks.

*Tiers III and IV are payable in states with high rates of unemployment, such as Michigan.

Extended Benefits to continue

Federal legislation also continues to fund the Extended Benefit program, which provides up to 20 weeks of unemployment benefits to those who exhaust their EUC benefits. The EB program will continue until December 31, 2011.

UIA is updating its information

The agency has updated its website and telephone lines with information about the continuation of federal extensions. Prerecorded messages on UIA’s 1-866-MI HELPS telephone number are updated along with “on hold” messages on the agency’s toll-free claims line – 1-866-500-0017.

Last Updated 1/26/2011