Michigan Working To Fix Technological Issues On Unemployment Site

MICHIGAN — The state is taking measures to resolve technical issues residents filing for unemployment benefits are encountering.

The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) has implemented new online tools to help users report and resolve technical issues, the agency said Friday in a press release.

“We’ve built online prompts and other resources into the systems to help unemployed workers resolve technical issues when trying to login to submit their claim,” said LEO Director Jeff Donofrio. “While we estimate that around 95 percent of claimants have accessed our systems without any problems, we do understand some individuals have had technical difficulties. These tools are developed to connect users to our tech team who will contact claimants directly to resolve issues such as incorrect passwords, locked accounts or errors with authentication codes.”

Claimants who previously experienced technical problems that are not yet resolved are encouraged to go back into the system to report the issues to the technical team so that the issue will be expedited for resolution.

The fastest way to file an unemployment claim is online, where the application process takes about 25 minutes, officials said. Between 90-95 percent of all claims are filed online. Claimants experiencing issues will be able to submit their online technical support request to a member of the technical team, comprised of Department of Technology, Management and Budget and UIA staff.

Within a week, it’s expected that the equivalent of around 100 full-time employees will be dedicated to this effort.

All eligible workers will receive benefits

The Unemployment Insurance Agency assures that every eligible worker in Michigan who applies for unemployment benefits will receive them. The UIA is accepting claims and benefit applications back-dated to reflect the date on which the claimant was laid-off due to the coronavirus, beyond the previously established 28-day period ($600 federal payment is only retroactive back to March 28).

Historical demand

The latest U.S. Dept of Labor report shows that since March 15, more than 800,000 Michigan workers filed for unemployment, a more than 5,000 percent increase. Michigan has seen a record number of claims each of the last three weeks.