Michigan sees first expansion of unemployment benefits in over 20 years
In December 2024, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law legislation making the changes to Michigan's unemployment benefits.
For new claims filed starting Wednesday, the weekly maximum unemployment benefit will go up to $446 from $362, where it has stood since 2002. In 2002, $362 had the same buying power as $642.42 in February 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' inflation calculator.
Under the new law, the weekly maximum unemployment benefit will increase to $530 in 2026 and $614 in 2027. In later years, the law requires the state treasurer to adjust the benefit amount to reflect the change in the Consumer Price Index, a measure of price changes.
The new law also increases the benefit amount for each dependent of an unemployed Michigan worker from $6 to $12.66 a week per dependent. The benefit amount will increase to $19.33 in 2026 and $26 in 2027. Subsequent increases will be tied to inflation. Unemployed workers can claim the dependent benefit for up to five dependents, according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.
Michigan lawmakers voted on the legislation in December 2024, and Whitmer signed it into law that month. But state lawmakers did not vote to have it take effect immediately, slating it to kick in instead on April 2. But the text of the legislation approved by Whitmer says the increase to Michigan's unemployment benefit amount takes effect Jan. 1, 2025. The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) plans to carry out a review of claims filed between Jan. 1 and April 2 to determine which unemployed workers qualify for the higher benefits, a labor department news release states. "If a claim qualifies for increased benefits, UIA will pay the difference to the claimant," reads the release.
Nick Assendelft, UIA communications manager, said in an email only some may receive the maximum weekly benefit increase of $84. "Not everyone will get the full amount since how much they are eligible to receive is determined based on each person's situation and wage history. The increase on a case-by-case basis will be only for the weeks between Jan. 1 and April 2, not for weeks when someone was collecting benefits before Jan. 1," he said.
But an unemployed worker who filed a claim earlier this year will not be eligible for the new maximum 26 weeks of benefits, up from the current 20 weeks. The new benefit timeline only applies to new claims filed starting Wednesday.
The labor department's news release directs claimants to keep an eye on their Michigan Web Account Manager account for updates and recommends ensuring the bank account and address information is current. "If UIA sends a request for information, respond by the stated deadline and use only official forms from UIA to facilitate timely actions on a claim," the release states.
In 2011, Whitmer's Republican predecessor — Gov. Rick Snyder — signed legislation cutting the maximum number of weeks unemployed people could claim benefits for from 26 to 20 weeks. Until the new law took effect Wednesday to restore the 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, Michigan was one of a dozen states offering unemployed workers fewer than 26 weeks of unemployment insurance, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.
Every Democratic lawmaker voted for the legislation to expand Michigan's unemployment benefits. Three Republicans joined them: state Sen. Ed McBroom, of Waucedah Township, state Rep. Dave Prestin, of Cedar River, and state Rep. Greg Markkanen, of Hancock. Those GOP lawmakers all hail from Michigan's Upper Peninsula and represent counties in the state with some of the highest unemployment rates, according to the latest figures from the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics.
More: Trump tariffs trigger jitters for auto stocks, Michigan economy
Those seeking assistance with a claim or with other questions can call customer service at 866-500-0017, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The state labor department in a news release also directed those interested in meeting with an agent to schedule an in-person, phone or virtual meeting up to 14 days in advance at Michigan.gov/UIA.
Contact Clara Hendrickson: chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan sees expansion of unemployment benefits
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNBC
a day ago
- CNBC
Sarah Jessica Parker used to get by on $40 for 3 days—it taught her there's 'security in being able to pay your bills'
Before the fame, fashion or multi-million dollar deals, "Sex and the City" actress Sarah Jessica Parker used to make $40 stretch for three days, she told podcast host Alex Cooper on a recent episode of "Call Her Daddy." When Parker moved out on her own at 18, she only had "a little money in the bank" from her role on the 1980s CBS sitcom "Square Pegs," she said. So, as she went out for auditions, uncertain of when the next big job would come, she would withdraw her money "very judiciously," she said — only allowing herself $40 around twice a week for her day-to-day expenses. Adjusting for inflation, $40 in 1983, when Parker was 18, would be around $132 today, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' CPI inflation calculator. Although Parker said she was more driven in her early career by her desire to perform than by fame or money, she also acknowledged that financial stability mattered: "There's security in financial gain" and "security in being able to pay your bills," she said. While Parker's restrictive budgeting may have worked for her short-term, focusing on day-to-day spending isn't the most effective way to strategize and save as a freelancer, gig worker or artist today, says Christopher Haigh, CEO of Icono Capital, a financial advisory firm. "Budgeting for freelancers and gig workers shouldn't be about rationing pennies or envelope systems, it should be about building a system that absorbs volatility," Haigh says. "If you're relying on extreme budgeting methods to stay afloat, that's a sign your financial foundation is cracked." Even with unpredictable income, you can still develop sustainable budgeting strategies, Haigh says. Here's how to juggle those ups and downs and start shifting out of scarcity mode, according to a financial pro. The first step to building a budget is understanding what you're actually spending, Haigh says. In order to evaluate that amount, he says, take a close look at your last three months of expenses. Once you have a good idea of where your money is going on a consistent basis, you can stop guessing and start planning with real numbers, Haigh says. That's when you can start utilizing his "bucketing strategy," where you allocate percentages of your income into different "buckets" every time you earn money. As opposed to tiered budgeting, where you assign fixed dollar amounts to spending categories for every month, a bucket strategy divvies up your expenses by percentage of your income. That can provide flexibility for the fluctuations in income that freelancers, gig workers and artists often need to navigate, Haigh says. "Every time you make a dollar, it should be allocated to particular buckets no matter what," he says. The buckets for a freelancer or gig worker with minimal income should start out fairly basic, he says: Even if the amount you're putting into savings doesn't feel like much, developing good habits early can help you reach your goals later on, Haigh says. Using a budgeting app like Tiller, Monarch Money or Copilot can also help you automate those habits and take part of the load off your plate, he adds. And although it can be difficult to put money aside with inconsistent income, maintaining an emergency fund is especially important if you're likely to encounter weeks or months without work, Haigh says. He recommends freelancers or gig workers put away at least six months of basic living expenses, if possible, which is more than the three months he typically recommends for W-2 workers, he says. If putting away several months of savings isn't feasible for you, which is often the case for people with unstable income, the next step should be to open up options for growing your income, Haigh says. After all, he says, you can't budget your way out of scarcity. To help reduce financial stress, Haigh often advises his clients to take up part-time jobs or diversify the gigs they're pursuing, he says. While it's important to build muscle memory with directing income into your "savings bucket," your priority may need to be figuring out how to expand that income first, Haigh says.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
US economic data quality a worry, authorities not acting urgently enough, experts say
By Sarupya Ganguly and Indradip Ghosh BENGALURU (Reuters) -Risks to the quality of official U.S. economic data - long seen as the gold standard - are worrying 89 of 100 top policy experts polled by Reuters, with most also concerned that the authorities are not addressing the issue urgently enough. A decline in official survey participation rates and recent deep staff cuts at statistical agencies risk undermining the reliability of data that policymakers, companies and even households rely on to make decisions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the principal agency for labor market and inflation data has, like other government departments, been hit by firings, resignations, early retirement and hiring freezes as part of a White House cost-cutting push. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who has held interest rates steady all year while keeping a close eye on whether President Donald Trump's tariffs have added to already-elevated price pressures, last month warned cutbacks could degrade key economic surveys. Most economists in a July 11-24 Reuters poll, 89 of 100, said they were concerned about the quality of official U.S. economic data, including 41 who said they were "very concerned". Survey respondents, who included Nobel Laureates, former policymakers, academics from top U.S. universities, and economists from major banks, consultancies and think tanks, were mainly worried about future data releases. "I can't help but worry some deadlines are going to be missed and undetected biases or other errors are going to start creeping into some of these reports just because of the reduction in staff," Erica Groshen, BLS commissioner from 2013-2017, told Reuters. "Another very big risk is all of the current administration's changes will make civil service employees more like political appointees .... I can't name any senator or congressperson who is a champion for federal statistics and has made supporting these agencies an important part of their agenda going forward." When Trump took office in January, the federal civilian workforce was 2.3 million. It was nearly 260,000 civil servants lighter by end-April, according to a Reuters tally. Estimates show BLS headcount is down at least 15%. Partly as a result, the agency is ending the calculation and publication from next month of about 350 components of the Producer Price Index, an indicator of inflation before goods reach the consumer. A BLS spokesperson said in a statement: "Response rates to most federal surveys have been declining for many years .... In addition to outreach efforts focused on encouraging households and businesses to participate in our surveys, BLS is exploring ways to overcome response rate and limited resource challenges." Other agencies, including the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Census Bureau have had recent cutbacks to budgets and staff, said some sources familiar with the matter. Asked if U.S. authorities were treating the issue of economic data accuracy with sufficient urgency, more than 80% of respondents, 71 of 87, said "no". Some 70%, 63 of 90, also said U.S. government agencies did not have enough resources to maintain the collection and release of high-quality economic data. "Budget cuts are coming at a time when it's getting harder and harder to run surveys. You have to sample more people and chase people down, and that's a labor-intensive effort," said Ethan Harris, former head of global economic research at Bank of America. "People take statistical agencies for granted. So they're easy to cut because there's no lobby or special interest group that's powerful enough to protect them. I don't see any improvement going forward." More than two-thirds of those polled, 66 of 98, also said they were worried that deteriorating statistics would hurt Fed policymaking. A similar proportion of economists in a separate recent Reuters survey published this week said they were also concerned about the Fed's independence from political influence amid Trump's public attacks on Fed chief Powell. "Major statistical agency ... budgets are not adequate to support ongoing production of the wide range of high-quality statistics they have traditionally released," said Karen Dynan, professor at Harvard University and former U.S. assistant secretary of the Treasury for economic policy. "Policymakers are not prioritizing the issue enough to ensure the U.S. maintains its status as having the best statistical system in the world." Reuters surveys published this month also showed concerns about the quality of economic data published in Britain and the accuracy of unemployment statistics in India. (Additional reporting by Anant Chandak. Polling by Jaiganesh Mahesh, Renusri K and Aman Kumar Soni. Editing by Ross Finley and Mark Potter) Sign in to access your portfolio
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Donald Trump's Disapproval Rating Rises To New High
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Donald Trump's disapproval rating has climbed to its highest level since the start of his second term, according to new polling data. The most recent Wall Street Journal/ Fabrizio, Lee and Associates poll shows that Trump's disapproval rating has hit 52 percent, up from 51 percent in March, while his approval rating has remained the same at 46 percent. The survey was conducted between July 18-21 among 1,000 registered voters. In other polls conducted before the beginning of Trump's second term, his disapproval rating ranged from 46 to 51 percent. Meanwhile, Trump's personal favorability rating declined slightly, from 47 percent in March to 45 percent in July, and a majority of voters—52 percent—continue to view him unfavorably. With Trump's popularity declining, voter sentiment remains unsettled—especially on the economy, with most voters continuing to feel the financial strain of inflation and rejecting key elements of Trump's economic policy. This comes as inflation has begun to rise again, with the rate of annual price increases hitting 2.7 percent in June, up from 2.4 percent the previous month, according to the Consumer Price Index. At the same time, the president's economic approval rating remains stuck at 44 percent, unchanged since March. Disapproval has edged up slightly, from 52 percent to 53 percent. President Donald Trump departs following a visit to the Federal Reserve, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Washington. President Donald Trump departs following a visit to the Federal Reserve, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Washington. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Signs of Recovery, But Financial Pressure Persists Nonetheless, public assessments of the economy have brightened. In July, 47 percent of Americans described the economy as strong—up from 36 percent in March. The share who called it weak fell from 63 percent to 51 percent. Perceptions of momentum have shifted too: 38 percent now say the economy is getting better, compared to just 26 percent in March, while fewer believe it's getting worse (46 percent, down from 52 percent). But those gains haven't translated into personal relief. A consistent 57 to 58 percent of voters say inflation and the cost of living are causing at least minor financial strain. Another 31 percent say it's not currently a problem, but could become one if prices rise further. Just 11 percent in July said it isn't a concern at all. Beyond inflation, Trump faces growing criticism over his tariff policies. Just 40 percent of voters approve of his approach to tariffs, while 57 percent disapprove. Opposition is widespread: 56 percent oppose tariffs on Mexico, and 53 percent reject tariffs on the European Union. The skepticism runs deeper than specific policies. Nearly half of voters (48 percent) say Trump's economic approach will cause more harm than good, and a majority (52 percent) believe he is not looking out for the middle class. Immigration Agenda Backfires The poll also shows that Trump's aggressive immigration policies may be undermining his own support. According to the poll, his approval on the issue stands at 48 percent, while 51 percent disapprove, giving him a net approval rating of -3 points. That is despite a historic drop in illegal border crossings in June—largely attributed to his expanded deportation efforts and new detention measures. But reports of aggressive enforcement tactics, mass raids, and expanded ICE detention facilities—including temporary camps dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz"—have sparked unease even among voters. According to the poll, a majority—51 percent—say his efforts to deport undocumented immigrants have gone too far. But when asked specifically about illegal immigration, views were slightly more favorable: 51 percent approve of how he's handled it, compared to 49 percent who disapprove. National Mood Still Downbeat Amid concerns about the economy and immigration, most Americans remain pessimistic about the country's trajectory. In July, just 39 percent said the U.S. is headed in the right direction, while 55 percent said it's on the wrong track—slightly worse than the 41/51 split seen in March. Meanwhile, Trump has seen his approval ratings dip to a second-term low nationwide. Newsweek's approval tracker currently places Trump at a net minus 10 rating, with 43 percent of Americans approving and 53 percent disapproving. It is one of his lowest net approval scores in recent weeks. The most recent Marquette University survey shows Trump at 45 percent approval and 55 percent disapproval, a net rating of -10, down two points from -8 in May. It is the lowest rating Marquette has recorded for Trump during his second term. Similarly, Navigator Research found his approval at 42 percent, with 54 percent disapproving, marking a net approval rating of -12—a four-point drop from June and also his worst rating from Navigator since returning to office. More dramatic declines appear in Gallup's latest polling, which shows Trump with just 37 percent approval and 58 percent disapproval—a net rating of -21, down from -17 last month. The Bullfinch Group also reports weakening support, with Trump now at 41 percent approval and 55 percent disapproval, a net rating of -14, down slightly from -13 in June.
