Originally uploaded July 30th, reloaded August 3rd.
Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Nick Chaffin, Program Compliance Officer, CAMW! Capital Area Michigan Works! Lansing, MI, but serving Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties. CAMW! Employment Services Manager, Norean Saul, also joined to answer each question.
1. What are the new UIA work search requirements, and how are they affecting claimants?
2. How will the new rules affect businesses and business owners?
3. What would your advice be to individuals and businesses adapting to the new requirements?
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Unemployed Michigan workers must now complete three weekly work search activities to receive benefits
Expanded requirement begins this week as part of bipartisan updates to Michigan’s unemployment law
Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is reminding workers that an increased work search requirement begins this week for unemployment benefits. Effective Sunday, July 19, 2026, those who receive unemployment benefits must log at least three work activities each week, an increase from one a week previously.
The change stems from bipartisan legislation (Public Act 238 of 2024) passed in December 2024 that updated Michigan's unemployment law (Michigan Employment Security (MES) Act).
“These are the most significant updates to Michigan’s unemployment system in years — and every worker needs to understand what’s changing,” UIA Director Jason Palmer said. “While the increase may mean a bit more effort each week, it also opens more pathways back to stable employment.”
To be eligible for benefits, workers must actively look for work and report their work search activities to the UIA, unless they have a waiver. Accepted activities include applying for jobs in person or online, attending job fairs, creating a profile or resume on a professional networking or job site such as MiTalent.org, or participating in online job search workshops or seminars. For a full list of activities, see this factsheet.
If someone does not conduct and report three work search activities each week as part of their certification for benefits then they won’t be paid or may have to return benefits they were not supposed to receive.
The fastest and easiest way for those receiving benefits to report work searches while certifying is through their online Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) account, available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
A detailed FAQ on the expanded work search requirement is available at Michigan.gov/UIALawChanges.
For more on what to report, how to report, and tips for recording work search activities, visit the Michigan.gov/UIA work search page.
Other changes to unemployment law in July
The increased work search is not the only change workers and employers will see implemented this month:
Effective July 17, those who leave their job due to domestic violence may qualify for unemployment benefits if they meet all other eligibility requirements. When completing an application, claimants will see “domestic violence” as one the selectable separation reasons. This provision aligns Michigan with a growing number of states that have enacted unemployment protections for survivors of domestic violence.
Effective July 17, unemployed workers and employers can request to have some appeal cases combined into one hearing before an administrative law judge.
Effective July 17, people who must pay back improperly collected benefits can apply for a financial hardship waiver up to four times a year, a change from once six months.
Effective July 19, employers using the Work Share program can reduce employee hours from 10 percent to 60 percent (the current range is 15 percent to 45 percent).
