Beginning Monday, There’s a New Way To Certify Your Unemployment

BensonPublished: June 4, 2021

SANTIAGO, CHILE - JULY 08: Jobless people line up to collect state bonds or loans to face the economic crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic on July 8, 2020 in Santiago, Chile. The government will give a loan to the middle class of Chile that must be paid from the year 2022. National government announced economic measures aimed to middle class whose income has been affected by the coronavirus lockdown. The package includes low-interest loans, postponement of mortgage payments, rental subsidies and student loan extensions. Deputies will vote today for a bill on early withdrawals of up to 10% of pension funds, one of the main requests during the national protests of 2019. (Photo by Marcelo Hernandez/Getty Images)

While unemployment figures are starting to looking better, one aspect of the whole Coronavirus pandemic that just keeps on giving is people are still seeking unemployment benefits. And now there are changes in the way Michigan is beginning to verify whether job seekers are actually actively looking for work.

According to the state of Michigan, the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has reintroduced a call-in schedule to assist all claimants who certify their eligibility for benefits by phone. This starts on Monday, June 7th, 2021. The call-in schedule is based on the last two digits of your Social Security Number (SSN), will help ease incoming call flow and prevent extended wait times while reporting work search activity by phone.

“Although certifying and reporting your work search activity online is quicker and more efficient, this call-in schedule will make it easier for those who may not have online access.” said Liza Estlund Olson, UIA acting director.

The rules are folks claiming for unemployment have to look for work and "report at least one work search activity per week when they certify for benefits. Failure to report a work search activity will result in a loss of benefits for that week".

If you certify by phone, you now have to call according to the schedule.

Beginning Monday, June 7, 2021

Here's UIA work search schedule: The certification day and time corresponds with the last two digits of a your Social Security Number (SSN). When certifying by phone using MARVIN (866-638-3993), you have to certify on your scheduled day and time.

It's not a draconian as it sounds. If you can't certify on your scheduled day and time, you may certify on Thursday or Friday of their certification week, regardless of their SSN.

MARVIN is available from 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, but is no longer available on Saturdays. But the state says if you can do it online, it's a lot faster.