Unemployment Insurance (UI) provides unemployment benefits, usually in the form of weekly payments, to eligible workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own, and meet certain other eligibility requirements. UI is administered jointly by the U.S. Department of Labor and the State of Michigan.

In March 2020, new federal law greatly expanded unemployment insurance. Many workers who were not previously covered are now eligible. You may now be eligible if any of the following are true:

• Your employer permanently or temporarily laid you off due to coronavirus measures
• Your employer reduced your work hours due to coronavirus measures
• You are self-employed and have lost income due to coronavirus measures
• You’re quarantined and can’t work due to coronavirus
• You’re unable to work due to a risk of exposure to coronavirus
• You can’t work because you’re caring for a family member due to coronavirus

In addition to expanding eligibility, new federal law also:

• Increases the weekly benefit amount that states currently provide by $600, until July 31, 2020
• Provides an additional 13 weeks of benefits for people who are still unemployed after their state benefit period runs out