To claim unemployment benefits in Michigan, file a new claim through the Unemployment Insurance Agency’s online portal (MiWAM) or by phone at 1-866-500-0017, then certify your eligibility every two weeks while searching for work. For claims starting in 2026, you need at least $5,328 in wages during your highest-earning quarter, and the maximum weekly benefit is $530 for up to 26 weeks.
Check That You Qualify
Two tests decide whether you can collect. The first is monetary. The UIA looks at your “base period,” the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. You must have wages in at least two of those quarters, at least $5,328 in your highest quarter (for 2026 claims), and total base period wages of at least 1.5 times that high-quarter figure, meaning roughly $7,992 or more across the four quarters.1State of Michigan. Eligibility Requirements
The second test is about how your job ended. Benefits are for people out of work through no fault of their own: layoffs, downsizing, reduced hours. You are disqualified if you were fired for misconduct, such as violating company policy or being intoxicated at work. Quitting also disqualifies you unless you can show “good cause attributable to the employer,” like unpaid wages or unsafe conditions, and the burden of proving that falls on you.2Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 421-29 Throughout your claim you must also be able to work, available for work, and actively looking.3Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 421-28
Gather Your Documents First
Having everything in front of you keeps the application from stalling. Pull together:
- Your Social Security number and Michigan driver’s license or state ID.
- If you are not a U.S. citizen, your Alien Registration number and the expiration date of your work authorization.
- Names, mailing addresses, and zip codes for every employer from the past 18 months, with exact start and end dates and your gross wages by calendar quarter.
- If you worked for the federal government or served in the military during the past 18 months, your DD-214 or federal wage statements.4Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Fact Sheet 160 – Claiming Unemployment Benefits in Michigan
If you want direct deposit instead of a state debit card, have your bank routing and account numbers ready too.
File the Claim
Most people file online. Start by creating a MiLogin account, which gives you a single secure sign-in for Michigan state services, then register for MiWAM, the UIA’s claim portal.5State of Michigan. MiLogin and MiWAM Help Center
Inside MiWAM, you enter each employer from the past 18 months and your specific reason for leaving every job. You pick your payment method (debit card or direct deposit) and decide whether to have federal income taxes withheld from your weekly benefit. Review the confirmation screens, submit, and save the confirmation number as proof of filing.
If you can’t get online, call 1-866-500-0017 to file by phone.4Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Fact Sheet 160 – Claiming Unemployment Benefits in Michigan
What Happens After You File
The UIA sends a Monetary Determination (Form UIA 1575C) to your MiWAM inbox or by mail. It shows your weekly benefit amount, the wages your employers reported, and how many weeks you qualify for. Your weekly amount comes from your high-quarter earnings, with $530 as the ceiling for 2026.6State of Michigan. Unemployment Weekly Benefit Rate Increases January 1, 2026 The number of weeks is 43% of your total base period wages divided by your weekly benefit amount, capped at 26 weeks.7State of Michigan. Increased Unemployment Benefits and Added Weeks Go Into Effect April 2
Don’t expect money immediately. The UIA cannot issue a first payment until at least 10 days after the Monetary Determination is issued, and that 10-day mark is the earliest possible release date, not a guarantee.8State of Michigan. Qualification and Eligibility
Keep Your Benefits Coming
Filing is only the beginning. Three ongoing requirements keep payments flowing.
Register With Michigan Works!
Create a profile with your local Michigan Works! office and meet with their staff. Both steps must be done and verified at least one business day before your first bi-weekly certification. Miss this and your first payment can be delayed.9State of Michigan. Register to Work Requirement
Certify Every Two Weeks
Every two weeks you confirm you are still eligible, either through MiWAM or by calling MARVIN at 1-866-638-3993, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You confirm you can work, are available, and haven’t turned down suitable work.4Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Fact Sheet 160 – Claiming Unemployment Benefits in Michigan
Do a Weekly Work Search
You must complete at least one qualifying work search activity each week you claim benefits and report it during certification.10State of Michigan. Completing Your Work Search Applying for a job online or in person counts, as does attending a job fair, building a profile on a site like MiTalent.org, or going to a job search workshop. Keep notes on each activity in case the UIA asks you to verify it.
Working Part-Time While You Claim
Picking up part-time work doesn’t automatically end your benefits. Your weekly amount is reduced by 50 cents for every dollar you earn, and your combined wages and benefits can’t exceed 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount.11U.S. Department of Labor. Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws If your weekly benefit is $400 and you earn $200 at a part-time job, benefits drop by $100, so you receive $300 in benefits plus $200 in wages. Report earnings during certification for the week you worked, not the week you were paid.
If Your Claim Is Denied
You can challenge a denial. Start by asking the UIA for a redetermination. If the redetermination still goes against you, the case moves to the Michigan Administrative Hearing System, where an administrative law judge holds a hearing.12Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 421-33 You and your former employer can each present evidence and testimony, bring witnesses, submit documents like pay stubs and termination letters, and question the other side’s witnesses. Treat this hearing as your main chance to put the facts on the record; later appeal levels review the existing record rather than taking new evidence.
Avoid Overpayments and Fraud Trouble
If the UIA later decides you were paid benefits you weren’t entitled to, you have to pay the money back, whether the mistake was yours or theirs. Unpaid balances accrue interest at 1% per month, and the state can garnish wages, intercept state and federal tax refunds, seize lottery winnings over $1,000, and bar you from future benefits.13State of Michigan. Overpayment Collections FAQ
Intentional misrepresentation is far worse. The UIA can recover the overpayment plus damages equal to three times that amount, and criminal charges are possible.14Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 421-54 Federal law also tacks on a penalty of at least 15% of any fraudulently obtained payment.15U.S. Department of Labor. Report Unemployment Insurance Fraud If you catch a mistake on a certification, fix it in MiWAM as soon as you notice; prompt corrections keep an honest error from looking like fraud.