UIA offices close for MLK holiday; online resources will be available

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 19, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but unemployed workers can still certify work searches online, access many helpful resources, or use UIA's chatbot for answers to general questions about unemployment.

Over the holiday, unemployed workers can use the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) to file a claim - following the steps in the UIA Claimant Roadmap - or certify work searches. MiWAM is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even when UIA offices are closed. Log in at Michigan.gov/UIA.

Using MiWAM to apply for benefits and certify work searches is the quickest and most efficient way for workers to complete their benefits processes.

Five things you need to know

1. Certifying work searches by phone using the Michigan Automated Voice Interactive Network (MARVIN) will not be possible when UIA offices are closed for MLK Day. MARVIN will be available again on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
2. If your day to certify falls on Monday, Jan. 19, you can make it up by calling on Thursday, Jan. 22, or Friday, Jan. 23. To collect benefits, workers must report their job status and whether they meet work eligibility requirements every two weeks.
3. With the holiday closure there may be a slight delay in unemployment benefits being deposited into bank accounts or added to U.S. Bank debit cards.
4. UIA's artificial intelligence-powered chatbot at Michigan.gov/UIA is available 24 hours a day for quick and accurate responses to general questions about unemployment. Unemployed workers and employers can access the chatbot using either a desktop or mobile device.
5. UIA's 12 Local Offices, Customer Service hotline at 1-866-500-0017, and the Office of Employer Ombudsman phone line at 1-855-484-2636, Option 4, will be available again to serve Michigan residents and employers beginning Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Helpful resources for workers and employers

UIA's many helpful online resources for navigating the unemployment landscape are part of the agency's commitment to being a national model for fast, fair, and fraud-free service:

• The UIA Claimant Roadmap, a six-step, user-friendly guide to applying for and understanding benefits. Access the roadmap at Michigan.gov/UIAClaimantRoadmap.
• Online Coaching Sessions, which are web-based group sessions led by UIA staff on topics such as filing a first-time claim, understanding a Monetary Determination letter, the protest and appeals process, overpayment collections, seeking work and registration requirements, and employer-focused seminars about UIA's planned new computer system known as MiUI. The First-time Filer Coaching Session is also available in Spanish.
• The Advocacy Program, which provides free legal help for unemployed workers and employers who appeal UIA redeterminations.
• Phone, virtual, or in-person appointments that can be scheduled up to 14 days in advance at Michigan.gov/UIA.
• Answers to frequently asked questions, toolkits, detailed information, and other resources for workers and employers can be found at Michigan.gov/UIA. Helpful instructional and informational videos are posted on YouTube.
• MiUI University, to learn more about UIA's upcoming new, modern MiUI computer system available to all users in Summer 2026. MiUI will be easy to use, speed claims processing, and build on the agency's aggressive anti-fraud tactics. It also will include plain language forms and correspondence for easier understanding of expectations.
• The innovative Employer Help Center, a plain language guide that answers employers' questions about unemployment taxes, claim issues, and UIA programs. It can be found at Michigan.gov/UIAEmployerHelpCenter.
• A comprehensive list of resources for federal workers who have been laid off or terminated at Michigan.gov/FederalWorkerHelp.
• The UIA Economic Dashboard, which tracks local and statewide trends in unemployment insurance at Michigan.gov/UIAEconomicDashboard.

Need help or have questions about a claim?

Ask online: UIA's chatbot at Michigan.gov/UIA can answer many questions.

Search online: FAQs, videos, toolkits, and other resources at Michigan.gov/UIA.

Chat with us: Available through MiWAM Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Meet with us: Schedule an in-person, phone, or virtual meeting at Michigan.gov/UIA.

Talk with us: 1-866-500-0017, Monday through Friday. For TTY service, call 1-866-366-0004.