MICHIGAN UIA

Michigan officials are warning of fake letters being mailed to residents and businesses demanding collection on past-due state debts.

An audit of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has given some insight into some of the issues that happened during the height of the pandemic.

In an effort to help “streamline” the processing of claims, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency will receive a new computer system within the next few years.

Thousands of people wrongly accused of fraud when seeking unemployment benefits can seek financial penalties from the state.

Michigan’s unemployment agency announced another round of waivers and refunds for filers who were overpaid and asked to pay back the overpayment.

If you’ve filed for or receive unemployment benefits in Michigan, officials are warning about a phishing scam targeting filers through text messages.

It’s a new email scam, and millions in Michigan are being targeted. If you’ve collected unemployment, you may receive an email that appears to be from UIA asking for personal information. However, if you look closely, you may notice misspellings.

More than 55,000 Michiganders will not have to pay back a total of $431 million in pandemic unemployment benefits that was improperly awarded to them, the state announced.

A Troy woman, who worked with Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency, and a Detroit man have been charged for running a scheme to steal unemployment benefits, authorities said.

A former member of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after a scheme designed to award pandemic-era benefits to people submitting false claims.

A man and a woman from Detroit have been sentenced for conspiring with a Michigan unemployment worker to steal thousands of dollars in pandemic relief funds.

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency is pausing its collection of new wages and interceptions of state tax refunds until next month while cases are being reviewed.

Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Director Julia Dale took over the position in October 2021.

She filed for unemployment as an independent contractor and soon the checks she needed arrived, but then late last year she received a notification from UIA telling her she owed the state $17,000. She was stunned.

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has been riddled with big problems since the start of the pandemic.

Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Director Julia Dale took over the position in October 2021.

Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Director Julia Dale took over the position in October 2021.

Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Director Julia Dale took over the position in October 2021.

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) tells us fraud is on the rise.

I know so many of you have struggled to speak with a real person at the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.

The Unemployment Insurance Agency said they have flagged 10,000 recent claims for fraud. Why is there such a dramatic increase this time of year?

Michigan likely paid about $8.5 billion in fraudulent unemployment benefits over a 19-month period during the coronavirus pandemic, far more than previously estimated, according to a report released by the state.

A scathing audit has found that in processing 5.4 million unemployment claims during the COVID-19 pandemic, shortcomings in the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency Office caused $3.9 billion in overpayments.

Michigan’s acting Unemployment Insurance Agency director appeared before the House Oversight Committee Thursday to answer questions about the problems the agency has dealt with over the past 18 months.

People collecting unemployment may be at risk of having their identity stolen.

Michigan residents who need to report work search activity by phone will have to follow a new certification schedule

Michigan residents who need to report work search activity by phone will have to follow a new certification schedule

Michigan residents who need to report work search activity by phone will have to follow a new certification schedule announced by the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency starting June 7.

Extended unemployment benefits for Michigan residents will no longer be available after this week because the state’s unemployment rate dropped below the required threshold.

RELATED: Michigan unemployment: Residents can start to claim remaining PEUC, PUA paymentsThere’s a new way people who are battling the Unemployment Insurance Agency can get help to solve these issues. The University of Michigan’s Workers’ Rights Clinic has law students assisting residents in solving what can be frustrating issues. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the school said the Workers’ Rights Clinic would average about 15 phone calls each week. The Workers’ Rights Clinic -- formerly the Unemployment Insurance Clinic -- offers advice, provides representation at more. To apply for legal assistance through the Workers’ Rights Clinic, visit the University of Michigan Law School’s official website here.

Michigan residents who have remaining pandemic unemployment payments can start to claim them this week, including the additional $300 COVID-19 benefit, state officials announced. Residents who claimed Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits and had weeks remaining on their claim as of Dec. 26, 2020, can start to certify their claims, according to the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. RELATED: Whitmer confirms start of $300 unemployment payments to Michiganders affected by COVID-19The certification process can be done through MiWAM accounts, officials said. Residents who didn’t exhaust their original 13 weeks of PEUC can claim the balance of remaining weeks, starting with the week ending Jan. 2, officials said. Claimants who didn’t exhaust their original 39 weeks of PUA payments can claim the balance of remaining weeks, beginning with the week ending Jan. 2, the state revealed.

DETROIT – Last month, when the director of the Michigan Unemployment Office resigned, promises were made that critical fixes would be made and help would arrive for the thousands struggling to get benefits. On Monday, those problems still remain. Many people have been going back and forth with unemployment officials for months with no end in sight. Many people are desperate for help. Watch the video above for the full report.

DETROIT – A father of four has been locked in a battle with the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency since the summer. He hadn’t received any benefits, and after running into a problem at every turn he reached out to the Help Me Hank team for help. He has been working for months to try to get the benefits owed to him. Local 4′s Hank Winchester investigated and now the father will be getting his benefits. The problem was that the father’s identity had been stolen and because of that, his account was put on hold.

LANSING, Mich. – An audit to address issues at the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) found that shortcuts used to expedite payments left the agency vulnerable to fraud in hundreds of millions of dollars. The audit done by Deloitte cited multiple actions taken that caused problems. Michigan officials are warning residents of an email scam that is attempting to retrieve personal information from individuals collecting unemployment benefits. According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, an email is being sent to claimants seeking personal information. The email is being sent from a Gmail account that appears to be from the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) -- it is not.

Michigan officials are warning residents of an email scam that is attempting to retrieve personal information from individuals collecting unemployment benefits. According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, an email is being sent to claimants seeking personal information. Michigan residents are being warned of an email scam targeting individuals who collect unemployment benefits. (Michigan Department of Attorney General)Officials say the UIA would never ask a claimant to reply to an email with personal information. “Bad actors are increasingly sophisticated in their efforts to deceive people into giving away personal information,” Nessel said.

DETROIT – Thousands of Michigan residents are expected to file for unemployment benefits in the coming weeks as those working in the service and entertainment industries take another hit amid new COVID-19-related closures. As the Michigan health department’s new coronavirus measures take effect, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is working to beef up its workforce and improve technology to serve those in need. These efforts have positioned the agency to better deal with large fluctuations of demand if necessary,” UIA interim director said. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency said people returning to unemployment because of COVID-19 should reopen previous claims, not make a new one. Use the same login information as you did the first time you claimed unemployment.

New COVID-19 restrictions lead to flood of new unemployment claims in MichiganIf you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.

Michigan looks to overhaul unemployment office after resignation of directorIf you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.

More than 900,000 Michigan workers who are collecting unemployment benefits are expected to begin receiving a $300 weekly bump in payments this month. The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has started processing payments for Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) for eligible Michiganders. Due to the large volume of payments to be processed, workers will begin receiving LWA payments over the next week to ten days. Also, all unemployed workers receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) have already completed this step. States were initially granted three weeks of LWA benefits and must apply for additional weeks.

Two people, including an employee of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, have been charged for their alleged role in a $1.8 million unemployment insurance fraud scheme. His duties included reviewing, processing and verifying the legitimacy of unemployment insurance claims. Beginning in May, 2020, it is alleged that Rose used his insider access to release payment on hundreds of fraudulent claims. Rose attempted to override another $761,000 in fraudulent unemployment claims, but the State was able to prevent payment on those additional claims. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, the United States Secret Service, and the Unemployment Insurance Agency, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.

Michigan submitted an application for federal funding that would provide an additional $300 per week to Michiganders receiving unemployment benefits. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) submitted an application to the United States Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) for funding on Tuesday, according to a release. The program allows for existing Unemployment Trust Fund payments delivered by Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency to count as 25% matching funds required for participation. The additional benefits will be added automatically for all claimants who are eligible to receive at least $100 in weekly unemployment benefit payments. This includes claimants receiving any type of regular unemployment insurance benefits as well as those receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits.

Michigan has submitted an application for federal funding that would provide an additional $300 per week to Michiganders receiving unemployment benefits. UPDATE: FEMA approves Michigan for additional $300 in weekly unemployment paymentsThe additional $600 payments included in the first federal relief bill ended on July 31. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) submitted an application to the United States Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) for funding on Tuesday, according to a release. The UIA estimates that under the program, about 910,000 Michiganders would receive at least $300 per week in supplemental benefits. The program allows for existing Unemployment Trust Fund payments delivered by Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency to count as 25% matching funds required for participation.

The state of Michigan has brought on Deloitte to help sort out issues with unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic. The state says Deloitte will assist the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) with financial operations, investigations into imposter claims, and a forensic review to help in identifying fraudulent activity that can be quickly turned over to law enforcement for prosecution. “As the UIA works to improve its systems to enhance customer service, data transparency, payment systems and fraud prevention, we’re glad to have Deloitte on our team,” said UIA Director Steve Gray. “The Deloitte team’s skills and experience help us protect Michiganders and provide unemployment benefits to our working families.”Deloitte will also bring additional capacity to help the state identify potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities and take action to mitigate identified risks. “Consistent with our commitment to our clients and our communities, Deloitte is pleased to bring our deep understanding of unemployment insurance systems and our broad capabilities in cybersecurity and forensic assessment to support the State of Michigan’s efforts to protect the integrity of their complex systems,” said David Parent, Michigan Managing Principal, Deloitte LLP.