Changes in Benefit Entitlements for EUC Program
The U.S. Department of Labor recently notified the State of Michigan that Tier 4 of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program will end as Michigan’s jobless numbers are below the level required by federal law to continue Tier 4 of the program.
As a result, week ending June 23, 2012, will be the last week in which Michigan EUC claimants can exhaust Tier 3 benefits and still establish a Tier 4 claim. Under the new provisions, claimants can continue to receive any remaining entitlement they have in Tier 4 until it is exhausted through payment for week ending December 29, 2012, provided they are otherwise eligible. Those who exhaust their Tier 3 EUC benefits after week ending June 23, 2012, will be unable to collect any Tier 4 benefits.
The UIA is in the process of notifying claimants affected by this change. Additionally, the UIA continues to partner with Michigan Works! Service Centers to offer valuable re-employment, training and educational opportunities and to provide resource information to claimants regarding other available state resource programs including training and educational opportunities, as well as other supportive services that may be available.
For additional information regarding changes to the EUC program, claimants may contact the UIA in the following ways:
· Call the UIA Customer Service Line at 1-866-500-0017 to speak with an agent. Agents will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., EST, Monday through Friday. TTY customers should call 1-866-366-0004.
· Visit the UIA website at www.michigan.gov/uia to review EUC program updates or to submit an inquiry to the Agency’s Virtual Problem Resolution (ViPR) agents who are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., EST.
· Visit a local UIA Problem Resolution Office (PRO) to speak with an agent in person. PRO offices are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Detroit, Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Mt. Clemens, Marquette, Muskegon and Saginaw. Please visit the UIA website at www.michigan.gov/uia to view PRO location details.
· Call the Agency’s EUC hotline, 1-800-638-3995, for pre-recorded updates about the EUC program.
Due to potentially high call volumes, the Agency recommends customers interact with its ViPR agents through an online claim web account. To register for an online claim web account, visit www.michigan.gov/uia and select “UIA Online Services for Unemployed Workers.” Users will be taken to a login page where they can register and create their online account with the Agency.
Those who have exhausted unemployment benefits can find additional resources for health care, family support, housing, and more, by visiting http://www.michigan.gov/helpinghand.Unemployed workers should also visit Pure Michigan Talent Connect at http:www.mitalent.org to obtain information regarding job and training opportunities.
For more information about LARA, please visit www.michigan.gov/lara. Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/michiganLARA, “Like” us on Facebook or find us on YouTube www.youtube.com/michiganLARA.
