Michigan Unemployment Insurance

Michigan Unemployment Insurance (UI) provides temporary financial assistance to workers who become unemployed or under-employed through no fault of their own.

Each state sets its own guidelines for eligibility for UI benefits, but you usually qualify if you:

1. have lost a job through no fault of your own;
2. are unemployed or partially unemployed for reasons permissible under federal law;
3. are “able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work;” and
4. have earned at least a certain amount of money during a “base period” prior to becoming unemployed. In most states, this is usually the first 4 out of the last 5 completed calendar quarters prior to the time that your claim is filed.

According to the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, for benefit years beginning January 1, 2026, in order to be eligible for unemployment benefits, you must have earned a minimum amount of wages in a recent ‘base period’ and must have:¹

1. earned at least $5,328 in one quarter of the base period,
2. wages in at least two quarters of the base period, and
3. total base-period wages of at least 1.5 times the wages earned in your highest-paid quarter.

For example, if your highest-paid quarter was the minimum qualifying amount of $5,328, your total base-period wages must be at least $7,992 (5,328 × 1.5), and you must have wages in at least two different quarters to qualify.

How much unemployment benefits can I get in Michigan?

According to the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, benefits per week range from a minimum of $218 to a maximum of $530 in 2026, which is determined by wages paid during the qualifying period.²

Those who file for a new claim may be entitled to up to 26 weeks of state unemployment benefits and are required to actively seek work each week that they file a claim for benefits.

For how many weeks is unemployment paid in Michigan?

Unemployment insurance in Michigan is paid for as many as 26 weeks in a benefit year. You must continue to meet the eligibility requirements and request payment for each week you claim.

How do I file for unemployment in Michigan online?

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is transitioning to a new tax and benefits system called MiUI , which will replace the current Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM). The new system will go live Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.

You can apply for UI benefits either online via MiWAM  or by phone at (866) 500-0017. To certify your biweekly claim by phone, call MARVIN at (866) 638-3993.

Here’s the six-step guide  to walk you through the application process, putting all the necessary information on how to file for benefits in one place.

Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
Unemployment Customer Service
(866) 500-0017