Trending...
- Santa Monica Businesses Push Back on Bus Stop Relocation That Threatens Access and Safety
- Ironside HR Named Fastest-Growing Staffing Firm for Second Year
- Martial Artists Invited to Push Their Limits at the 2025 JMAC Crucible in Ann Arbor
September 2, 2020
Contact: Jason Moon, 517-282-0041
Emergency aid provided by the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency to vulnerable workers has boosted the state's economic outlook, according to data and testimony shared by economists. At the recent Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, University of Michigan economist Gabriel Ehrlich indicated that UIA's efforts to pay benefits quickly and nation-leading Work Share program were credited with helping Michigan outpace the nation in consumer spending.
Since March 15, nearly $22B in unemployment benefits have been paid to more than 2.1M workers. As a result of this and other emergency aid, spending by Michigan residents has been three times higher than economists forecasted, helping families make ends meet and buffering the State Budget and State School Aid Fund against the most devastating cuts.
"Our unemployment system was designed to be a safety net for both our workers and economy," said UIA Director Steve Gray. "As we have throughout the pandemic, the UIA will continue to work, day and night, to provide this emergency financial assistance quickly so that claimants have the resources to provide for their families."
Consumer Spending
Ehrlich noted that UIA did a "better job in getting benefits to people in a timely fashion" than other states, and that the state has "seen a stronger recovery in consumer spending here than nationally." According to the Harvard-based Opportunity Insights, Michigan is 2nd in consumer spending relative to pre-COVID levels.
More on Michimich.com
Work Share
Ehrlich also credited Michigan's participation in the federal Work Share (WS) program, which allows employers who are still experiencing decreases in customer demand to bring back laid-off workers at reduced cost to support continued employment. Under this program, employees also collect partial unemployment benefits to make up for the lost wages. According the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Michigan led the nation in WS participation with more than 18% of all national WS participants. The program has provided $450M in benefits helping over 2,500 Michigan employers and saving the State's Trust Fund $212M. Nearly 97,000 employees participated at the peak of enrollment during the pandemic.
Historic Demand
Since March 15, the UIA has received as many claims – nearly 2.6M – as it did in the nearly six previous years combined, from May 2014 to March 2020. For further comparison, weekly initial claims reached a high of more than 388,000 in April, while the in the weeks preceding the pandemic, the UIA received around 5,000 new weekly claims. Even during the Great Recession, the weekly high was around 77,000 in 2009.
Paying Unemployment Claims
Since the beginning of the pandemic, over 2.2M certifying, potentially eligible claimants have applied for state and federal benefits, with nearly $22B in benefits paid to more than 2.1 million workers, or roughly 98% of potentially eligible, certifying claimants. There are currently less than 42,000 unpaid claimants with less than 26,000 needing ID verification and just under 14,000 in the adjudication process which requires a one-on-one review of their claim.
More on Michimich.com
The UIA has made a determination on all currently eligible, certifying unpaid claims that were filed before July, provided that information has been submitted and the claimant is reachable. In making a determination, the agency will pay out benefits, determine that the claimant is ineligible and communicate why, or deem the claimant unreachable after multiple attempts to make contact.
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
Contact: Jason Moon, 517-282-0041
Emergency aid provided by the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency to vulnerable workers has boosted the state's economic outlook, according to data and testimony shared by economists. At the recent Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, University of Michigan economist Gabriel Ehrlich indicated that UIA's efforts to pay benefits quickly and nation-leading Work Share program were credited with helping Michigan outpace the nation in consumer spending.
Since March 15, nearly $22B in unemployment benefits have been paid to more than 2.1M workers. As a result of this and other emergency aid, spending by Michigan residents has been three times higher than economists forecasted, helping families make ends meet and buffering the State Budget and State School Aid Fund against the most devastating cuts.
"Our unemployment system was designed to be a safety net for both our workers and economy," said UIA Director Steve Gray. "As we have throughout the pandemic, the UIA will continue to work, day and night, to provide this emergency financial assistance quickly so that claimants have the resources to provide for their families."
Consumer Spending
Ehrlich noted that UIA did a "better job in getting benefits to people in a timely fashion" than other states, and that the state has "seen a stronger recovery in consumer spending here than nationally." According to the Harvard-based Opportunity Insights, Michigan is 2nd in consumer spending relative to pre-COVID levels.
More on Michimich.com
- Exelon Leader Tamla Olivier Named 2025 Technologist of the Year by Waves of Change STEM Conference
- Be Part of the World's Largest Art Biennale | Moons, Castles, Trees | Copenhagen Chronotopes
- SeedList Launching Institutional Crypto Crowdfunding Project to Empower Retail Investors and Disrupt the VC-Dominated Crypto Fundraising Landscape
- California Family Launches Billboard to Reach "Pardon Czar" Alice Marie Johnson
- Rocket Companies to Announce Second Quarter 2025 Results on July 31, 2025
Work Share
Ehrlich also credited Michigan's participation in the federal Work Share (WS) program, which allows employers who are still experiencing decreases in customer demand to bring back laid-off workers at reduced cost to support continued employment. Under this program, employees also collect partial unemployment benefits to make up for the lost wages. According the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Michigan led the nation in WS participation with more than 18% of all national WS participants. The program has provided $450M in benefits helping over 2,500 Michigan employers and saving the State's Trust Fund $212M. Nearly 97,000 employees participated at the peak of enrollment during the pandemic.
Historic Demand
Since March 15, the UIA has received as many claims – nearly 2.6M – as it did in the nearly six previous years combined, from May 2014 to March 2020. For further comparison, weekly initial claims reached a high of more than 388,000 in April, while the in the weeks preceding the pandemic, the UIA received around 5,000 new weekly claims. Even during the Great Recession, the weekly high was around 77,000 in 2009.
Paying Unemployment Claims
Since the beginning of the pandemic, over 2.2M certifying, potentially eligible claimants have applied for state and federal benefits, with nearly $22B in benefits paid to more than 2.1 million workers, or roughly 98% of potentially eligible, certifying claimants. There are currently less than 42,000 unpaid claimants with less than 26,000 needing ID verification and just under 14,000 in the adjudication process which requires a one-on-one review of their claim.
More on Michimich.com
- Rent Like A Champion Acquires CollegeWeekends
- Sumter Landing Dental Care Launches Summer Special on Full Mouth Reconstruction
- Seligson Law Launches New Website to Support Cannabis Businesses in California and New York
- databahn Announces Subscription Access to Fortune 500 GenAI Deep Dive Sales Intelligence Reports
- AI startup Congero offers instant websites with 24/7 updates - aiming to replace web agencies
The UIA has made a determination on all currently eligible, certifying unpaid claims that were filed before July, provided that information has been submitted and the claimant is reachable. In making a determination, the agency will pay out benefits, determine that the claimant is ineligible and communicate why, or deem the claimant unreachable after multiple attempts to make contact.
UIA Data March 15 – September 2, 2020 | |
$21.9B | Benefits paid |
2,599,075 | Total unique claimants (State and Federal) |
201,610 | Claimants determined currently ineligible for benefits |
186,883 | Claimants who have not certified |
2,210,582 | Total unique potentially eligible claims with certification |
2,169,600 | Claimants paid at least once |
98.1% | Percent paid at least once |
25,566 | Claimants unpaid due to ID verification |
13,899 | Claimants unpaid due to other non-monetary issues |
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
0 Comments
Latest on Michimich.com
- Josh & Heidi Share Upcoming "Spreading the Good BUZZ" Podcast Guests, Select Top Five Elopement Locations as Their Instagram Presence Grows Globally
- Opteamix Launches StackRewrite.AI to Transform Enterprise Legacy Modernization
- "The Pornified Generation": Dr. Chris Samuels Exposes the Toxic Alliance Between Bro Culture and Pornography That's Rewiring a Generation
- RECOMMENDED CASH AND SHARE COMBINATION OF DOWLAIS GROUP PLC WITH AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING HOLDINGS, INC.
- The Modern Insurance Store Expands Medicare Help Services for Seniors in Cincinnati
- Ironside HR Named Fastest-Growing Staffing Firm for Second Year
- Inframark Continues to Build Its Community Management Capabilities and Multi-Disciplinary Presence in Arizona
- ICAST 2025: The Crystal-Clear Revolution Begins at Booth #3233
- Brindle Pet Supplies Now Carries Badlands Ranch Dog Food in Canada
- $10 Million Allocated to Establish Crypto Treasury Focused on High Value Ethereum (ETH) & Bitcoin (BTC) as Long-Term Holdings for Cybersecurity Leader
- Sing For Your Supper: A Night of Musical Comedy and Drag for a Great Cause
- Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies Celebrates New DBH Graduates
- $100 to $200 Million Equity Agreement with Top Digital Advisor Bitwise to Power Major Digital Asset Initiative for Bitcoin and Solana: OFA Group
- New Collaboration Launches Corporate ESG Solution for Responsible Decommissioning and Transparent Reporting
- Roofman USA Shares the Pros and Cons of Summer vs. Fall Roof Replacements
- Wilderness Construction Shares Storage Solutions to Take You Kitchen Remodel to the Next Level
- The Bridge Chiropractic in Ann Arbor Offers Groundbreaking Approach to Knee Pain Relief
- Martial Artists Invited to Push Their Limits at the 2025 JMAC Crucible in Ann Arbor
- SlickCashLoan Launches Free Loan Calculator to Help You Plan Monthly Payments
- Michigan Personal Injury Lawyers, Matz Injury Law, Announces Over $10 Million Savings for Clients Through Reduced Fee Model