As of May 30, 2021, the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has reinstated work search requirements for unemployment benefits claimants. The requirement to search for work in order to receive unemployment benefits had been suspended since March 2020 to help the increased volume of hardworking Michiganders who faced unemployment due to the pandemic.

Claimants must now actively seek work and report at least one work search activity per week for each week they claim benefits. A work search activity could include submitting a job application, attending a job fair or employment workshop, interviewing with employers and more.

There are COVID-specific exemptions for people who are self-employed, unable to work due to COVID-19 and parents with children attending school remotely because the school is closed. If an individual has an approved waiver, they are exempt from the work search requirement. Claimants must apply for a waiver prior to their certification for benefits.

In addition to COVID-specific waivers, claimants may also be exempt from the work search requirement if they are granted a temporary layoff waiver. This type of waiver must be requested by the employer before a worker is laid off. The Registration and Seeking Work Waiver may be approved for 45 days. The criteria for establishing a waiver are:

• The separation must be a layoff for lack of work
• The layoff is temporary (work will be available within 45 days)
• The request must be received before the layoff occurs (no later than the week prior to the layoff.)

Refusing an Offer of Suitable Work

When an employer makes an offer of suitable work to an employee or makes an offer for an employee to return to their previous job, the employee can possibly lose unemployment benefits it he/she refuses. Wages, workplace safety and other factors are considered in determining whether work is “suitable.”

Both employers and employees have an obligation to report offers and refusals of suitable work to the Agency. The employer should notify the UIA by submitting details of the refusal in MiWAM.

If a claimant fails to return to work or refuses an offer of work, this can be reported online through your MiWAM account.

• Under Online Services for Employers
• Click on Report Refusal of Offer to Work
• Complete all steps with information and then submit.

If a claimant fails to interview, you can submit the date, time and employer name and address of where the interview was to take place, along with the claimant’s name, address, and phone number so the UIA can research and investigate. This type of protest will need to be mailed to:
UIA, P.O. BOX 169, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-0169.

For more information on suitable work, including what to do if an employee refuses an offer of suitable work see Fact Sheet 144 – Returning to Work and Refusal to Work Information for Employers.

On March 27, 2021, temporary statutory amendments codifying Gov. Whitmer’s Executive Order 20-76 for charging unemployment benefits to Unemployment Insurance Agency’s Non-Chargeable Benefits Account (NBA) has expired. Under the temporary provisions, employers were not charged for benefits paid to claimants who were laid off, placed on a leave of absence, or whose work hours were reduced due to COVID-19. As of March 28, 2021, all benefits paid to claimants based on these types of separations will be charged to the involved employer’s experience account.

When you receive Form UIA 1136, Weekly Statement of Benefit Charges (dated as of March 28 and forward), and you disagree with benefit charging of unemployment claims for separated workers, you must file a protest. Additionally, employers must follow up and respond timely to Form 1713, Request for Information, for fact finding information if a protest is filed.

From April 4 – Sept. 4, 2021, reimbursing employers are eligible for 75% federal reimbursement of the benefit charges for COVID-related or non-COVID related reasons under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Reimbursing employers will be responsible for the remaining 25% of the benefit charges.

For faster service, all documents should be submitted through MiWAM.  It is recommended that all employers gain access to their MiWAM account in addition to your third-party administrator’s access.

UIA EMPLOYER AUDITS

UIA tax audits are conducted periodically to ensure compliance with the Michigan Employment Security (MES) Act. Employers are selected for tax audits based on computer-generated sampling or employer account referrals. If selected for an audit, you will receive a Notification of Audit letter from a UIA auditor by mail (USPS), and by a web notice in your MiWAM account.

Starting July 12, 2021, in person audits will resume. UIA has also launched an E-Audit (Electronic Audit) process using a Secure Employer Documentation Portal available in your MiWAM account. The E-Audit process allows you to upload all required documents that are needed for an audit so that the auditor can review and perform the audit without going to your place of business. This is a fast and convenient process for employers to use. At the conclusion of either the standard “in person” audit or the e-audit, you will be notified regarding the results in a post audit discussion with the auditor and you’ll be sent a Notice of Audit Results letter via US mail.

Employers may also be contacted by an auditor regarding investigation of a claimant’s request for benefits. The auditor may need to verify claimant wages, W-2’s or 1099’s, or investigate any misclassification of employees. The auditor will ask for documentation to make a determination for claimant benefits.

_{This information is provided by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity}.