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Big benefits, claims a ‘perfect storm’ for unemployment fraud in Michigan
Michigan officials aren’t saying how many cases of unemployment insurance fraud investigators have found so far, but roughly 58,000 residents have self-reported that someone stole their identity to try to claim benefits.
Nearly 12,000 Michigan workers unemployed since May 1 still await benefits
More than 11,800 Michigan workers who filed for jobless benefits between March 15 and May 1 have yet to be paid or denied, but the state unemployment agency said Tuesday it intends to clear that backlog by July 4.
Opinion | As long as coronavirus looms, the $600 unemployment top-off should stay
Directing cash to those who need it most channels dollars to businesses, which employ more workers, who, in turn, have income to spend.
Michigan may have lost millions to over 100,000 fake unemployment claims
The state’s investigation into international fraud found 1 in 5 frozen accounts are still considered suspicious.
Michigan jobs go unfilled when workers make more from unemployment
‘How do we get people back to work when there’s really no incentive for them to?’ asked one employer about not being able to compete for workers earning generous jobless benefits.
Michigan legislators want unemployment offices reopened
Jobless workers continue to say they’re struggling to reach Unemployment Insurance Agency employees to resolve issues with unpaid claims that in some cases may go back months
400K unemployment claims now flagged in Michigan fraud investigation
Benefits have been restored to 140,000 people, but an additional 200,000 new claims now require verification as the state confronts identity theft.
Frustrations rise over 340K frozen jobless claims, Michigan’s lack of answers
About 340,000 accounts in the state’s jobless benefit system received ‘stop payment’ alerts in May when officials launched an investigation into identity fraud. Now, lawmakers and the jobless are becoming frustrated over the agency’s lack of answers about the probe.
Michigan freezes 340k unemployment accounts amid fraud probe and pandemic
The state of Michigan has frozen 340,000 unemployment accounts, blocking cash assistance for jobless residents while it investigates suspected fraud by imposters seeking to take advantage of enhanced benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said Friday.
How Michigan can save $80M and give state workers a raise amid coronavirus
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is utilizing a federal “work share” program to furlough state employees one day per week. Because of federal benefits, many state workers will earn more than they would have working five days per week.
Q&A with Rich Studley: Michigan hurt by ‘arbitrary’ coronavirus shutdown
“Are we heading toward another lost decade?” CEO Rich Studley recently tweeted.
Opinion | It’s time for Michigan to fix our broken unemployment system
A Michigan senator urges changes to what he calls outdated rules and burdensome requirements that are barriers for applicants seeking unemployment benefits.
Over 1.7 million applicants push Michigan unemployment system to the brink
State legislators got their first look at overall jobless claims Wednesday after two months of coronavirus layoffs. Eight percent of applicants still await payments.
Long-term changes proposed for Michigan’s unemployment system
With 1.3 million residents filing for jobless benefits, the system is under a spotlight. Now, some policy experts and Democrats say, it’s time to revise it. Business leaders aren’t sure.
Michigan jobless claims top 1.1 million as state streamlines approvals
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order this week, changing the review process for benefits. The state hopes that step gets money to unemployed workers more quickly.
‘Scary times’ for Michigan restaurants won’t end when dining rooms reopen
Coronavirus is still battering the state’s restaurant industry, which lost $1.2 billion in sales in April and saw 75 percent of workers laid off. Switching to carry-out and opening for fewer patrons may not be enough for many to survive.
Some in Michigan make more from unemployment than work during coronavirus
Businesses in the northeast Lower Peninsula say some workers are not quite ready to return to their jobs, given the boost in income they receive from special federal and state funding during the pandemic lockdown.
Opinion | Michigan's government could use a lesson on workforce deployment
"Instead of laying people off, why not assign them to the Unemployment Insurance Agency?" asks a state representative who says her office is fielding hundreds of calls from people who can't file claims or get answers.
How some Michigan counties are insulated against coronavirus unemployment
Certain places in Michigan are losing more jobs than others. It’s the same old story in a state where manufacturing still dominates the economy in some counties.
Whitmer laying off government workers as coronavirus hits Michigan budget
Michigan state budget coffers have been hit hard by the coronavirus, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's staff begin sending emails to state employees Wednesday announcing 10-day layoffs.