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.

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