Michigan to make determination on all unpaid unemployment claims filed before June 1 by July 20

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency provided an update today on payments to workers since March 15 and its backlog.

Backlog

The agency is reporting that it has met its goal to make a determination on all currently "eligible, certifying unpaid claims" that were filed before May 1, according to the agency.

By July 20, the agency said it will "continue to clear out its remaining backlog" and make a determination on all unpaid claims filed prior to June 1.

For workers who applied before June 1 and are awaiting a decision on eligibility, the UIA will pay out benefits, determine that the claimant is ineligible and communicate why or deem the claimant unreachable after multiple attempts to make contact.

This includes the roughly 30,000 unpaid claimants who filed before June 1, who represent just over 1% of all claims filed.

Payments

Since March 15, about 2.1 million eligible claimants have applied for state and federal benefits, and over $15 billion in benefits have been paid to over 2 million workers.

The Unemployment Insurance Agency also said 97.2% of "potentially eligible, certifying claimants" have received or are approved for benefits.

Most of the remaining unclaimed claimants are flagged for "potential impostor fraud." Less than 39,000 unpaid claims haven't been resolved and are being held for additional identity verification. Around 20,000 unpaid claims are held pending adjudication for "other reasons."

“The UIA remains committed to quickly processing claims," UIA Director Steve Gray said. "While there is only small percentage of eligible workers who have yet to be paid, we know that is no consolation to the thousands of claimants who are frustrated, desperate and owed the benefits they were promised.

"We will not rest until the claims backlog is eliminated and all eligible Michigan workers get every single dollar they are entitled to.”