Apply online through Michigan.gov/UIA by signing in to MiLogin and opening MiWAM, or apply by phone at 1-866-500-0017, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Online filing is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Check whether you already have a MiLogin account before creating one; a duplicate account can delay access. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) says, “The best way to see if you’re eligible is to apply.”
What to gather before applying
Collect the details UIA uses to identify you, review your work history and determine your claim. Have the following ready:
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- Your Social Security number and driver’s license or state ID. If you are not a U.S. citizen, have your USCIS number and the expiration date on your work authorization card.
- The names and addresses of every employer you worked for in the last 18 months, your first and last dates of work, pay rate and pay frequency, and details about why the job ended or your hours were reduced.
- Your bank routing and account numbers if you plan to use direct deposit. UIA says online-only and digital-only bank accounts cannot be used for this option.
Your federal employer identification number (FEIN), Michigan employer account number (EAN), recent pay stubs and a W-2 can be useful, but UIA’s July 2026 Fact Sheet 160 says they are not required to file.
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- Open MiWAM. Go to Michigan.gov/UIA, sign in through MiLogin and access the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM). If you prefer to apply by phone, call 1-866-500-0017 during UIA’s weekday application hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Complete the application accurately. Use the employer, wage and separation information you gathered. Report all jobs and give clear, accurate details about the end of work or reduction in hours.
- Register for work before your first certification. Create a job-seeker account at MiTalent.org, then meet with an agent at a Michigan Works! office. UIA describes this as a two-step requirement; failure to complete it could stop benefits. Ask your local Michigan Works! office whether a virtual meeting is available.
- Read your UIA notices. Check MiWAM and agency correspondence for requests and deadlines. UIA sends a Monetary Determination, Form UIA 1575C, stating your weekly benefit rate, number of weeks allowed, and when job searches and certifications should begin. Follow the dates and instructions on your own determination.
MiWAM is available around the clock and gives you access to notices and work-search records. Phone filing is an alternative if you cannot use the online route; the application phone line’s stated hours are not the same as MiWAM’s availability.
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Certify every two weeks and report work searches
Filing a claim does not certify weeks automatically. You must certify every two weeks on the schedule UIA assigns, using MiWAM or MARVIN at 1-866-638-3993. UIA describes MiWAM as the easiest and fastest certification method and allows online certification during the certification week. Do not submit certification by both phone and online for the same weeks.
Complete three unique work searches each week
For weeks claimed on or after July 19, 2026, Michigan requires at least three unique work searches each week. Report them during your biweekly certification and keep proof in case UIA asks to see it. Each certification asks for employer contact information, and MiWAM lets you log your searches.
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Report earnings in the week you worked
Report gross pay for the calendar week when you performed the work, including part-time work. Do not wait until you receive the paycheck to report those earnings. People whose hours are reduced may qualify for a reduced payment, but UIA determines the effect of earnings on an individual claim.
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Who may qualify and how much benefits can be
Michigan unemployment benefits provide temporary income when someone loses work or an employer reduces hours. In general, a claimant must be unemployed through no fault of their own and be able, available and actively seeking suitable full-time work, as well as completing the required work registration. These are general conditions, not a decision on any one claim: UIA reviews the facts and issues a determination.
For 2026 claims, UIA lists a maximum weekly benefit rate of $530, compared with $446 in 2025, and a possible benefit duration of 14 to 26 weeks. Those are limits, not a promised payment or duration; the claimant’s wage history and UIA determination control. Extensions are available only when high unemployment and state or federal action make them available. UIA lists a scheduled maximum-rate change to $614 effective January 1, 2027; that future amount is not the 2026 rate.
Effective July 17, 2026, a person who had to leave a job because of domestic violence or to protect a household member’s safety may qualify if other requirements are met. This does not make eligibility automatic; include accurate circumstances in the claim and follow UIA’s determination.
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Choose how to receive payment
UIA lists direct deposit and a UIA debit card issued by U.S. Bank as payment options. Direct deposit requires eligible bank account details; UIA says online-only and digital-only accounts cannot be used for that option. Choose between the listed methods based on your access and account circumstances.
UIA says payment should be available within 2–3 business days after certification. That is an expected processing window, not a guarantee for every claim. If payment has not appeared, check MiWAM for payment status or a request for more information.
If your claim is pending, delayed or denied
Respond to requests in MiWAM
Keep your contact information current, check MiWAM regularly and respond to UIA requests by the deadline in the notice. If UIA has an open non-monetary issue and you need to provide additional evidence, the after-filing FAQ directs claimants to Determination Status and then Pending Fact Finding-Add Additional Docs.
Know whether to file a protest or an appeal
A protest is the first review level and challenges a Determination. An appeal challenges a Redetermination or a later decision or order. For either, UIA generally must receive the filing within 30 days of the relevant notice’s mail date. Use the official UIA forms or the protest/appeal route in MiWAM; UIA says not to use its chatbot to file. If you miss the deadline, explain why. Continue to certify and report work searches while a protest or appeal is pending.
Effective July 17, 2026, claimants can ask to combine related matters into one hearing when filing an appeal through MiWAM or Form UIA 6631.
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Save copies of your application details, work-search records, certifications, payment information and any documents you send. UIA says it can investigate a benefit payment up to three years after payment. Your MiWAM account and individual notices are the place to confirm claim-specific deadlines, requests and status.
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