UIA offices closed Monday for Labor Day, but you still can access online resources

The offices of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) will be closed Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, for Labor Day, but anyone receiving jobless benefits can still go online to certify, record work searches, access helpful resources, schedule appointments, or use UIA's chatbot to find answers about unemployment.

UIA's public website at Michigan.gov/UIA and the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even on state and federal holidays such as Labor Day. Phone services, however, will not be available and Local Offices will be closed.

Using your MiWAM account is the quickest, easiest, and most accurate way to certify for benefits and record your three work searches per week. You can also use MiWAM to file a claim - following the plain language instructions in the six-step UIA Claimant Roadmap. Log into MiWAM at Michigan.gov/UIA.

Five things to know with the holiday closure

1. There may be a delay next week in unemployment benefits being deposited into bank accounts or added to U.S. Bank debit cards.
2. To collect benefits, workers must report their job status and whether they meet work eligibility requirements every two weeks.
3. An AI-powered chatbot at Michigan.gov/UIA is available 24 hours a day on either a desktop or mobile device for quick and accurate answers to general unemployment questions.
4. You can certify for benefits and log three weekly work searches by phone, but the best and fastest way is through your MiWAM account. Phone service will be available again on Tuesday, Sept. 8; users should follow their normal reporting schedule.
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 beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8, to serve Michigan workers and employers.

The three weekly work searches went into effect in July as part of bipartisan changes to Michigan's unemployment law approved by the Michigan Legislature in December 2024 and signed by the governor. The changes included an exception so victims of domestic violence who left their jobs would not be excluded from receiving benefits, provided they meet other jobless benefits eligibility rules. Find out more about these and other changes at Michigan.gov/UIALawChanges.

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, and seeking work and registration requirements. The First-time Filer Coaching Session is also available in Spanish.
• Language Assistance Services provide free support in Spanish, Arabic, Albanian, Bengali, and Chinese to increase understanding of the services and information UIA provides.
• Performance Dashboards. Interactive tools provide a deep dive into underlying data and trends in unemployment insurance in Michigan as well as core metrics that measure UIA's success.
• 2025 Annual Report. Data-driven insights into UIA's initiatives to improve the unemployment experience for workers and employers across Michigan.
• 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.
• A new, modern user platform. MiUI will be easy to use, speed claims processing, and provide a modern user interface. It will replace the decade-old MiWAM computer system used by workers to apply for benefits and employers to pay unemployment insurance taxes. For information, see Michigan.gov/MiUIUniversity.

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.