LANSING, MI (WTVB) – The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency officially overhauled its benefit filing infrastructure this week with the launch of MiUI, a modernized platform designed to streamline operations and reduce wait times.
Launched on Monday the new system completely replaces a 14-year-old legacy system that struggled significantly under intense claim volumes in recent years.
According to state officials, the upgraded system is specifically designed to handle routine tasks such as filing initial claims, certifying weekly benefits, and tracking job search logs seamlessly from mobile devices and computers.
State leaders emphasize that the transition is part of a broader philosophy to automate standard procedures so agency staff can dedicate more individualized attention to complex, non-standard claims.
The agency intends for the technological shift to improve overall system security, accelerate standard processing speeds, and gradually rebuild public trust through consistent performance.
The transition also brings several changes for people receiving unemployment benefits.
Instead of certifying every two weeks, workers will now certify weekly and receive benefit payments weekly.
Recent bipartisan changes to Michigan law also increased weekly benefit amounts and the number of weeks benefits are available.
Workers are now required to complete three unique work-search activities each week.
The transition also means the permanent discontinuation of MARVIN, the Michigan Automated Response Voice Interactive Network, which workers previously used to certify for benefits by phone. Calling the agency to file a new unemployment claim is also no longer an option.
Workers and employers can find tutorials, frequently asked questions and other information about the new platform
Comments