Waiting for the Michigan UIA to assess your unemployment insurance claim can be stressful. Not understanding what the UIA’s determination means once you receive it, is plain frustrating. This series of articles looks into this important form and provides information on what each section means for you. This is the second article on this form and focuses on the meaning of separating employer, base period, alternate base period and the reasons your application could be denied.

Last Employer or Separating Employer: This is the last employer you worked with before claiming for unemployment. This is an important section because many of the reasons your claim can be denied are based on who your separating employer is and the reasons he or she “let you go”.

Separating Reasons: This is the reason you (or your employer) provided for your separation. As you can imagine getting this right is crucial. If the reason for separation is you quitting the job voluntarily or gross negligence, you may not qualify for unemployment. In fact, any reason besides “lack of work” could cause you trouble.

Also, if your separating employer happens to be a family member, or if you are one of the owners of the company, you may only qualify for a reduced period of benefits (generally 7 weeks).

Last Employment Total Wages: This section gives you the total income you received from your last employer. This can determine your eligibility for UI. For example, in some cases you may be required to earn 5 times your weekly benefit amount with your last employer before you can continue receiving benefits.

Base Period Income: This is the amount of money you earned during the first four quarters of the last five. This amount is used to assess your eligibility and determine how many benefit weeks you qualify for. The four quarters in a year are: January to March, April to June, July to September and October to December. If you filed your claim in November your base period would start in June of the same year to July of the previous year.

Alternate Base Period: The Michigan UIA laws allow you to use an alternate base period including the last four quarters, if you do not qualify for UI with the income of a regular base period.

Date Protest Due: You are entitled to appeal against the UIA’s decision. However, for the appeal to be considered you must file it within 30 days of receiving the form. If you are close to the deadline date, fax it.

Your monetary determination form will tell you if your qualify for Michigan Unemployment Insurance Benefits and if you do, how much your will receive. It also explains why a claim is rejected and provides a overview of your income for your last base period. Not sure what a base period is? Don’t worry. This article will provide detailed instructions so you can understand everything you need to know about your monetary determination form.

Benefit Year Begins / Ends Section: This is the first section of your form. It simply provides the date you applied for unemployment benefits (your start date) and the last date you can claim for benefits under this claim (end date). This period is 52 weeks long.

High Quarter: This section details what the Michigan UIA has on record for your claim’s high quarter income . Your high quarter is the quarter (three-month period starting with January-March and ending with October-December) when you earned the highest income. This is important because your weekly benefit amount is determined by what your high quarter income is. Check this amount is correct before filing this form.

Reference Codes: This section explains why your claim is being reviewed, has been cancelled or important information on how you can improve the terms of your claim. For instance, code 6 means you qualify for higher benefits in another state and you should apply for an interstate claim.

Dependents: This section notes how many dependents you claimed for when filing for UIA benefits. The more dependents you have, the higher your WBA will be. To be precise you get $6 per dependent per week. Remember you cannot claim for more than five. However, if the number is wrong contact the UIA immediately and explain what the problem is.

Weekly Benefit Amount: This is probably the first section you looked for when reviewing your form. It includes how much you will receive every week in benefits. To check it is correct, multiply your high quarter income by 0.041, add six dollars for each dependent and round down to the next dollar.

Number of Weeks: This section provides you with the maximum number of weeks you can claim for under your current UIA claim. You can calculate this by yourself by multiplying your total base period wages by 0.43 and dividing by your weekly benefit amount.

Continue reading our second article in this series for more instructions on how to understand your UIA 1575 Form.

Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits are available to long-term unemployed workers in Michigan who do not find work after their initial state unemployment benefits (usually 26 weeks) expires. If you are in this situation you might wonder what you should do to apply for EUC benefits. We often receive this question, or a similar variation, from our readers. Take, for example, Mrs. Richardson’s query:

I received a letter from UIA two weeks ago stating that i was close to the ending of my benefit weeks and that i may qualify for an EXTENSION or EUC. I applied on line but never received an determination letter. A week later i received the same letter but has not received my determination. i do have my confirmation number.

What should Mrs. Richardson do? This article and the next will provide detailed directions you can follow to apply and qualify for EUC benefits in Michigan.

The Program

In Michigan (this varies somewhat from one state to another) the EUC program provides up to 53 weeks of Emergency Unemployment Compensation. These payments will be similar to your initial unemployment insurance benefits with the Michigan Insurance Agency.Note these benefits are paid by the Federal government not by your employer employment insurance.

The program is divided into four tiers of 20 weeks, 14 weeks, 13 weeks and 6 weeks, respectively. Only states with high unemployment rates, such as Michigan, qualify for all four tiers.

How to Apply?

Unlike regular Michigan UI benefits, you do not apply for EUC online. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency will send you a notification by mail if you qualify for EUC benefits when they are close to exhausting their UI benefits.

You should fill in this application as soon as possible and return it to the address specified in the instructions. How soon you receive your EUC benefits will depend on if and when the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency has this information, so please do not procrastinate. Fill in and send back this form as soon as possible.

In our next article we will provide a complete list of requirements for the EUC program. However, we would like to highlight two requirements many applicants fail to meet and that could jeopardize the chances of your application being accepted.

1) You must be registered with Michworks.org, the Michigan State work search website and your resume must be up-to-date. 

2) You must continue to file for your weekly EUC benefits over the phone, by using Michigan’s MARVIN system or online.

Our next article will provide a complete list of program requirements and contact details for the main unemployment insurance offices in Michigan.

This is the second part of our guide on Michigan EUC benefits. As we discussed in the previous article, many of our readers have enquired about the process of applying for EUC benefits. There are significant differences with the general system used to apply for Michigan State UI benefits which are important to understand.

First, the process for applying for EUC benefits begins with a written form which will be sent to you when you are close to ending your UI benefits. If you have less than 2 weeks left of your Michigan State unemployment benefits and still have not received a form informing you of your eligibility for EUC benefits and you feel (after reading this article) that you still qualify, contact one of the Michigan Employment Insurance Agency’s Problem Resolution Offices. We include below the contact details for Michigan’s UIA Problem Resolution Offices with Mapquest directions.

Problem Resolution Offices

Once you receive your form by mail you must fill it in and send it back to the address specified in the letter.

Requirements

- You must be unemployed. This may sound obvious, but some workers who have seen their hours reduced may apply for UI benefits without qualifying for EUC benefits. If in doubt, contact one of the PRO offices above.

- You must register with www.MichWorks.org.

- You must update your résumé with Michworks.

- You must make weekly benefit claims either online or overt the phone using MARVIN, Michigan’s automatic claim filing system. The process for this is similar to when you received UI benefits. Our next article will provide extra information on how you should file for EUC benefits using MARVIN. The toll free number you need to use is 1.866.638.3993 or you can click here to file online.

- You must be fit and willing to accept any employment you are qualified for.

If you meet these requirements your application for EUC benefits should be accepted. Again, if you have any issues with your application you can ask for assistance at one of the eight PRO offices in Michigan.

Learn how long you can download important forms from Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency's website.

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency allows you to file your claims online or over the phone. It also provides a wealth of information on its website. This includes downloadable forms and instructions you can read in your own time without wasting standing in line. These forms allow you to manage all kinds of procedures ranging from providing Notice to Register for Work to Authorizing Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency to withhold taxes on your behalf. If you are new to the unemployment insurance agency these forms and procedures can be confusing. This article will describe the main online forms, provide links to download them and give brief instructions on how to use them.

Notice to Register for Work

If you do not have a definite day to return to work with your last employer within the next 120 days you must register for work with Michigan’s Talent Bank. To register you must place your resume on the MTB’s website 2 or 3 days before using MARVIN (Michigan’s automated response telephone system). There are two ways you can do this: 1) Online at www.michworks.org or 2) in person by delivering your paper application at any of Michigan Works! Service Centers. You can also call 1-800-285-WORK to ask for directions to the nearest center.

What You Need To File An Unemployment Claim Form

This form does not only, as the name indicates, provide a list of documents and personal information you must supply. It also helps you organize your information and record it in one place so you can easily and quickly file your claim, whether online or over the phone.

To fill in this form you will need your Social Security Number, your driver license number (or your State ID number), your mailing address, your telephone number (or that of someone who can get a message to you) and the method of payment you wish to use. You will also need to provide a full work history of your previous employers and their contact details, you earnings in the last base year (that is the first four quarters of the last five quarters). This information is required to receive unemployment benefits so it is worth setting aside the time to collect the information accurately.

Weekly Earnings Calculation Worksheet.

Use this form to declare your earnings during a week you are claiming for unemployment benefits. You can use this form to calculate your total earnings including tips, vacation and holday pay. Remember you cannot claim unemployment for weeks you work full time and you will have to deduct a percentage of your earnings from your benefits if you work part-time.

Income Tax Withholding Form

This form provides Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency with the authority to withhold your taxes for the IRS. This service guarantees you do not forget to save for your yearly taxes on benefits. The form withholds 10 percent of your benefits towards Federal Income Tax. You can also use this form to ask the Unemployment Insurance Agency to stop withholding tax from your check.

Learn what the terms in your unemployment benefits application mean.

Although Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency strives to make things as simple as possible for unemployed workers, there are still many terms in forms and booklets you may have never heard off before and struggle to understand. This article will look at some of  the jargon found in Unemployment Insurance Agency publications.

Monetary Determination.

This is a document prepared by Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency  and sent to you to explain the status of your claim. If you qualify for  a claim it will specify how many weeks you are entitled to and how much money you will receive.

Benefits Year Beginning.

This is the date y0ur claim starts. You have 52 weeks, a whole year, to claim the 26 weeks you are entitled to. This 52-week period is your benefits year. Benefit weeks y0u don’t claim in your benefits year cannot be passed on to the next year.

Benefits Year Ending Date.

The date your benefits year finishes. After this date you can no longer reopen a claim on your 26 weeks of benefits. Of course, you may qualify for a new benefits year (with its 26 weeks) after the ending date of your current benefits year.

Base Period.

This is a key term if you want to understand how your benefits are worked out. It is a period of four calendar quarters (three-month periods) where the wages you were paid by your employer or employers are used to calculate your claim for unemployment compensation. The first base period quarter are as follows: Quarter 1 (January 1st to March 31st), Quarter 2 (April 1st to June 30th), Quarter 3 (July 1st to September 30th) and Quarter 4 (October 1st to December 31st). However your base year will be worked out from the last four quarters from the date you apply so quarter 1 does not have to start in January necessarily.

High Quarter Wages.

This is the quarter of your base period where you earned the most money. This the quarter used by Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency to calculate your unemployment benefits.

Reference Codes.

When y0u read your monetary determination (meaning of that term is explained above) you will see a load of reference codes. These codes provide you with important information on your claim. The meaning of these codes is explained on the back of your determination.

Number of Dependents.

This is the number of people that depend on you financially. That is, the people that live off your wage, or unemployment benefits. You cannot claim for more than five dependents. However, make sure you include everyone who you care for with your income because you cannot change the number of dependents during a benefit year.

You can continue to apply for EUC and wait to see if Congress extends the program.

The phasing out of the Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program has caused many readers to ask what they should do to apply for extended benefits once their initial 26 weeks finished.

Take for instance the query of Lisa:

I have exhausted my 26 weeks of unemployment as of 10/23/10.  Am still filing bi-weekly with MARVIN but have no received any further information regarding the extension.  Unable to contact Unemployment by phone.  What is needed to be done to start receiving support?

You cannot claim for Emergency Unemployment Compensation over the phone. You must apply in person at your local employment office. Unfortunately, the deadline to apply for EUC’s first tier of 14 weeks of benefits ended the 27th of November. If you applied for tier 1 of EUC you will be able to collect payments until the 14 weeks end. However, you will not be able to automatically roll on to tier 2 unless Congress decides to extend the program.

If on the other hand you finished your tier 1 weeks and wanted to apply for tier 2, 3 or 4, your deadline ended the 4th of December.

If you are already receiving payments from the EUC program, you will continue to receive them until you exhaust your current tier.

Whatever your situation you should contact your local employment office and ask for help. For instance, you should continue to file your biweekly benefits with MARVIN in case Congress extends the program. This way you could receive a lump sum for the weeks you claimed for but did not receive compensation.

Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency is still accepting applications, although as mentioned above, payments will not be made unless Congress approves a further extension.

If you have any more questions phone 1-866-500-0017 and select Option 3. Operating times for that number run from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm. Some of our readers complain they can’t get through to anybody at this number. Continue trying, during busy times it might take a while to get connected.

You can also visit your local unemployment office. Here are the addresses of the main offices in Michigan.

Detroit 3024 W. Grand Blvd.

Lansing 5015 S. Cedar St.

Gaylord 400 W. Main St., Suite 102

Marquette 2833 U.S. 41 West

Grand Rapids 3391-A Plainfield NE

Saginaw 614 Johnson St.

Michigan Works is a State funded organization that connects employers and unemployed workers.

Many readers have asked for information on contact details for Michigan Works offices. This article provides a brief overview of what Michigan Works is about and where you can find more information. Although Michigan Works is not a State Michigan government agency, part of the unemployment agency or a social services organization. It is however, supported by the State of Michigan, and can prove useful for employers looking for staff and unemployed workers searching for a job.

The organization is funded by federal and state tax funds and governed by board members, most of which are business leaders in their industry.
This article provides a review on what you can expect from Michigan Works and contact details for Michigan Works Service Centers.

The main role of the company is to help connect employers with unemployed workers.The services Michigan Works provides employers include publishing online advertisements, checking referrals, filing resumes and providing an up-to-date workers search engine.

If you are unemployed, Michigan Works can help by assisting you in writing your resumes, search for jobs online, search for training options, network with other employers in the area and provide you with career counselors to help maximize your results.

You can contact and join Michigan Works online through this link or visit one of their local offices. Contact details for Michigan Works offices are listed below. Although we strive to keep our information current, opening times can change at any moment, so contact your local office before you go.

Michigan Works! Service Centers has four main locations across the state.

Saginaw (on Bay Road across from Value City)
3875 Bay Road
Saginaw, MI 48603
Phone (989) 249-5232
Fax (989) 249-5250
Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 8:00AM – 5:00PM
Wednesday: 8:00AM – 5:00PM

Saginaw (downtown across from STARS bus depot)
614 Johnson
Saginaw, MI 48607
Phone (989) 776-1511
Fax (989) 755-8758
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 5:00PM

Bay City (North Pointe Plaza Corner of Wilder and Euclid)
4061 N. Euclid
Bay City, MI 48706
Phone (989) 667-0500
Fax (989) 892-1537
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 5:00PM

Midland (next to Farmer Jack’s in Midland Towne Center)
1409 Washington
Midland, MI 48642
Phone (989) 631-3073
Fax (989) 631-3990
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 5:00PM

Chesaning Satellite Center
110 S. Chapman, Unit B
Chesaning, Michigan 48616
Phone (989) 845-1427
Fax (989) 845-1466
Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 5:00PM

ALERT: You should investigate new health insurance since your last employer will no longer be paying for your health insurance.

The Michigan government has established a toll-free telephone number that can be accessed from anywhere in the United States. This number is specifically for filing for unemployment benefits claims whether new or re-opened cases. You can find it online or in a local telephone book.

If you have access to the Internet then filing for a unemployment benefits claim is even easier. Whether at home, the library or an Internet Cafe the claims office for your unemployment benefits is open 7:00 a.m. Monday to 7:00 p.m. Saturday. Here it is easy to work your way through filing a new claim or re-opening a previous case.

With Internet access you can find a wide range of extra services not available over the telephone. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency does not limit their service to filing claims by through offering other helpful services. By signing up with them on their website, you can access a growing number of unemployment benefits services for those seeking employment. They are available to both new accounts and re-opened cases.

As well as the unemployed, the Unemployment Insurance Agency has a section of help for the employer. You will be able to access and track your UIA payments and schedule and utilize other organizational tools. Your portal into the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency’s benefits begins at http://www.michigan.gov/uia/

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency has a wealth of other beneficial information online to help you through a troubled time. Informative articles abound on everything from managing your unemployment benefits claim to updates and new policy notifications. Breaking news on government actions to reduce unemployment and create better working conditions for all.

Subscribing to the Michigan Employer Advisor Newsletter will help the business owner keep up with the latest tends and information to remain successfully operational.

Since fate can turn at any moment you can file an Emergency Unemployment Compensation (Extension) to provide quick, emergency aid until the regular process kicks in. Access to application for Emergency Aid is also easily found online for the citizens of Michigan through the UIA website.

One of the primary services run through all the agencies is the automated labor exchange service called Michigan’s Talent Bank. Depending on the needs of a local area you will find adult, youth and dislocated workers programs. The service centers provide various welfare reform programs in addition to their unemployment office services.

For a guide to the full listing of benefits available as well as the address and phone number of whichever Michigan Works! Agency unemployment office nearest your location, set your browser to http://www.michiganworks.org/page.cfm/14/ and download the PDF (portable document file) guide to over a hundred locations throughout the State.

Through the development of the Michigan Works! Association, the State has centralized both the public and private sectors of government and business so that a more effective and smooth program is available to the citizens of Michigan. Replacing older and more cumbersome unemployment office systems in 1987, Michigan Works! has been recognized as the most innovative plan of its type in the nation.

Coupling the basic relief provided by an unemployment office with many career advancement services and education, Michigan Works! helps make the workers of Michigan even more valuable in their next job. If you are currently employed, you may find that by checking with Michigan Works!, you can prepare yourself for an even better job or career in the future.