Question 1

Can you get unemployment if you were fired in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

You are disqualified if you were suspended or discharged for misconduct connected with your work or for intoxication at work. To requalify, you must earn at least 17 times your weekly benefit rate. Separate disqualifications apply to discharges for assault and battery, theft, willful destruction of property, and illegal drug use or possession on the employer's premises (including refusing or failing a nondiscriminatory drug test); these carry a 26-week requalifying period and reduce your benefits by 13 weeks.

Question 2

Can you get unemployment if you quit in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

Leaving work is presumed to be voluntary and without good cause attributable to the employer, and you must prove otherwise. Missing 3 or more consecutive work days without contacting your employer, or cutting back to less than full-time, is presumed to be a quit. Quitting for medical reasons requires a medical professional's statement and showing you unsuccessfully asked for other work and a leave of absence. You are not disqualified for leaving unsuitable work within 60 days, leaving because a military spouse was reassigned, leaving one part-time job while keeping another, or leaving because of domestic violence. If disqualified, you must earn at least 12 times your weekly benefit rate to requalify.

Question 3

Can you get unemployment if your hours were cut in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

Laid-off workers can claim benefits if they meet the wage requirements. If your employer tells the agency the layoff is temporary, the agency may waive registration, availability and work search requirements for up to 45 days, extendable up to 90 more days for retooling, parts shortages or temporary production adjustments. Partial benefits are paid in weeks with reduced earnings.

Question 4

How much do you need to have earned to get unemployment in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

In at least one base period quarter you must have earned at least the state minimum hourly wage times 388.06 (about $5,328 at the 2026 minimum wage of $13.73). You must also either have total base period wages of at least 1.5 times your highest-quarter wages, or wages in two or more quarters totaling at least 20 times the state average weekly wage. The base period is normally the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters, with the last 4 completed quarters as an alternative.

Question 5

How much is unemployment in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

Your weekly benefit rate is 4.1% of your wages in your highest-paid base period quarter, plus an allowance for up to 5 dependents, rounded down to the whole dollar. For claims filed on or after January 1, 2026, the maximum is $530 per week and the dependent allowance is $19.33 each.

Question 6

How long can you get unemployment in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

The number of weeks equals 43% of your base period wages divided by your weekly benefit rate, rounded down to the nearest half week, with a minimum of 14 and a maximum of 26 weeks.

Question 7

What are the work search requirements for unemployment in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

You must register for work with a Michigan Works agency and, for weeks claimed since January 1, 2025, do at least 3 work search activities each week. Activities include applying or interviewing for jobs, using Michigan Works resources, job search workshops, creating an online professional profile and registering with an employment agency. Duplicate profiles, resubmitting the same resume, reapplying for the same job within 4 weeks, or just checking whether a job is open do not count. Report each employer, its location and the date and method of contact; searches are subject to audit.

Question 8

Does severance pay affect unemployment in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

A retirement pension financed by a base period employer reduces your weekly benefit by the weekly prorated pension amount; if that amount equals or exceeds your weekly benefit rate, you are not eligible.

Question 9

How do I apply for unemployment in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

Claims are filed online. The new MiUI system replaces MiWAM on November 9, 2026, and claims can no longer be filed by phone. Most UIA online services are unavailable from 4:30 p.m. November 2 to November 9, 2026, during the changeover. Report your work search at least once every 2 weeks when you certify for benefits.

Question 10

How do I appeal an unemployment denial in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

You can protest a determination within 30 days after it is mailed or personally served, and appeal a redetermination to an administrative law judge within 30 days after it is mailed or served. File with the Unemployment Insurance Agency.

Question 11

Can you work part-time and collect unemployment in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

Your weekly benefit is reduced by 50 cents for each whole dollar you earn in the week. Your benefits plus earnings cannot exceed 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount; above that, benefits are reduced dollar for dollar.

Question 12

Can self-employed or gig workers get unemployment in Michigan?

Accepted Answer

Since January 1, 2013, Michigan decides whether services are employment for unemployment purposes using the IRS 20-factor test (Revenue Ruling 87-41). If an employer is required to withhold federal income tax from a worker, the worker is presumed to be in covered employment.

If you were fired	You are disqualified if you were suspended or discharged for misconduct connected with your work or for intoxication at work. To requalify, you must earn at least 17 times your weekly benefit rate. Separate disqualifications apply to discharges for assault and battery, theft, willful destruction of property, and illegal drug use or possession on the employer's premises (including refusing or failing a nondiscriminatory drug test); these carry a 26-week requalifying period and reduce your benefits by 13 weeks. Source: MCL 421.29(1)(b), (1)(h)-(n), (3), (4)
If you quit	Leaving work is presumed to be voluntary and without good cause attributable to the employer, and you must prove otherwise. Missing 3 or more consecutive work days without contacting your employer, or cutting back to less than full-time, is presumed to be a quit. Quitting for medical reasons requires a medical professional's statement and showing you unsuccessfully asked for other work and a leave of absence. You are not disqualified for leaving unsuitable work within 60 days, leaving because a military spouse was reassigned, leaving one part-time job while keeping another, or leaving because of domestic violence. If disqualified, you must earn at least 12 times your weekly benefit rate to requalify. Source: MCL 421.29(1)(a), (3)(f)
Layoffs and reduced hours	Laid-off workers can claim benefits if they meet the wage requirements. If your employer tells the agency the layoff is temporary, the agency may waive registration, availability and work search requirements for up to 45 days, extendable up to 90 more days for retooling, parts shortages or temporary production adjustments. Partial benefits are paid in weeks with reduced earnings. Source: MCL 421.28(1)(a), (12); MCL 421.27(c)
Earnings needed to qualify	In at least one base period quarter you must have earned at least the state minimum hourly wage times 388.06 (about $5,328 at the 2026 minimum wage of $13.73). You must also either have total base period wages of at least 1.5 times your highest-quarter wages, or wages in two or more quarters totaling at least 20 times the state average weekly wage. The base period is normally the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters, with the last 4 completed quarters as an alternative. The dollar figure is calculated from the statutory formula and the 2026 minimum wage. Source: MCL 421.46
Self-employed, 1099 and gig workers	Since January 1, 2013, Michigan decides whether services are employment for unemployment purposes using the IRS 20-factor test (Revenue Ruling 87-41). If an employer is required to withhold federal income tax from a worker, the worker is presumed to be in covered employment. Source: Mich. Comp. Laws § 421.42(5)

Weekly benefit amount	Your weekly benefit rate is 4.1% of your wages in your highest-paid base period quarter, plus an allowance for up to 5 dependents, rounded down to the whole dollar. For claims filed on or after January 1, 2026, the maximum is $530 per week and the dependent allowance is $19.33 each. For claims filed on or after January 1, 2027, the maximum rises to $614 ($26 per dependent); from 2028 it is adjusted each year for inflation. The statute section does not state a minimum weekly benefit. Source: MCL 421.27(b)(1)
How many weeks	The number of weeks equals 43% of your base period wages divided by your weekly benefit rate, rounded down to the nearest half week, with a minimum of 14 and a maximum of 26 weeks. Source: MCL 421.27(d)
Working part-time on benefits	Your weekly benefit is reduced by 50 cents for each whole dollar you earn in the week. Your benefits plus earnings cannot exceed 1.5 times your weekly benefit amount; above that, benefits are reduced dollar for dollar. Source: MCL 421.27(c)(2), (c)(3)
Severance and vacation pay	A retirement pension financed by a base period employer reduces your weekly benefit by the weekly prorated pension amount; if that amount equals or exceeds your weekly benefit rate, you are not eligible. How severance and vacation pay affect benefits was not confirmed from an official source. Source: MCL 421.27(f)

How to apply	Claims are filed online. The new MiUI system replaces MiWAM on November 9, 2026, and claims can no longer be filed by phone. Most UIA online services are unavailable from 4:30 p.m. November 2 to November 9, 2026, during the changeover. Report your work search at least once every 2 weeks when you certify for benefits. Source: Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, resources for claimants; MCL 421.28(6)
Work search requirements	You must register for work with a Michigan Works agency and, for weeks claimed since January 1, 2025, do at least 3 work search activities each week. Activities include applying or interviewing for jobs, using Michigan Works resources, job search workshops, creating an online professional profile and registering with an employment agency. Duplicate profiles, resubmitting the same resume, reapplying for the same job within 4 weeks, or just checking whether a job is open do not count. Report each employer, its location and the date and method of contact; searches are subject to audit. Source: MCL 421.28(1), (6), (7), (8), (11)
Appealing a denial	You can protest a determination within 30 days after it is mailed or personally served, and appeal a redetermination to an administrative law judge within 30 days after it is mailed or served. File with the Unemployment Insurance Agency. Source: MCL 421.32a

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