A version of this column appeared in Michigan Advance
COVID-altered life in Michigan continues to reveal the inadequacy of many of our state’s social policies and safety net systems, and a new report from the Michigan League for Public Policy demonstrates how Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance policies are falling short in providing an adequate and effective safety net for unemployed workers. The Michigan Legislature must address these shortcomings rather than chip away at UI protections.
Unemployment Insurance (UI) has been a lifeline for laid-off workers since 1935. And while our state and our workers have gone through a lot since then, nothing can compare to the personal and professional challenges that have come with the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past 14 months, during which many workers could not work or collect a paycheck due to an unprecedented and unforeseen pandemic, UI was as important as ever in preventing workers and their families from experiencing severe financial hardship—and all of Michigan’s UI program’s shortcomings were laid bare.
Due to the intensity of the crisis, federal money was provided to states to boost their UI programs to address the intense and long-term hardship to come. One of these boosts was Pandemic Extended Unemployment Compensation, which pays for states to provide 13 additional weeks of UI to workers who exhausted their 26 weeks of basic benefits. However, there was a problem: in 2011, in a shortsighted move, the Republican-led Michigan Legislature and Gov. Rick Snyder reduced the state’s maximum duration of UI benefits from the standard 26 weeks to 20 weeks and was therefore ineligible to receive the federal money. The Legislature scrambled to temporarily raise the maximum back to 26 weeks so their unemployed constituents could receive the federal help.
The pandemic also pulled back the curtain on the many workers who deserve to have UI protection but do not receive it in Michigan, including lower-paid workers, part-time workers and independent contractors (and those wrongly classified as such). Such workers have been covered by federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). One year ago as the pandemic and uncertainty raged, there were more than 1.8 million workers covered by PUA compared to just under 1.1 million workers receiving regular UI, while today, with more people going back to work, there are 295,000 workers receiving PUA and 136,000 receiving regular UI. These numbers demonstrate the need for Michigan to broaden its eligibility; unless legislators pass Senate Bill 445, these workers will lose their unemployment protections.
Michigan has also let the maximum benefit for regular UI languish at $362 per week, where it has been since 2002. This current amount is equal to only 33% of the average weekly wage, and when adjusted for inflation, that is equal to only $249 in 2002 dollars.The League’s report also compared several UI indicators for Michigan to eight other states in the Midwest, and shows that we have the worst system in the region. Compared to our neighbors:
- Michigan pays the lowest maximum benefit in the Midwest, both as a numerical figure and as a percentage of the average weekly wage;
- Michigan has the lowest UI coverage in the Midwest, covering just 72% of unemployed workers;
- Michigan provides the fewest weeks of UI benefits;
- Michigan has the highest wage eligibility requirements for UI coverage;
- Michigan spends far less on UI per unemployed worker than most other Midwestern states; and
- Michigan’s maximum benefit will not prevent a family from falling into poverty, nor does it pay enough to make rent affordable.
To help remedy these weaknesses and make Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance policies more effective in adequately responding to the needs of unemployed workers, the League’s report recommends the following changes:
- Restore the maximum length of time workers can receive UI to 26 weeks;
- Base the maximum benefit on the average weekly wage;
- Lower the earnings requirements so more lower-paid workers can be covered;
- Raise recipients’ weekly benefit amount;
- Expand eligibility to more workers;
- Raise the dependent allowance from $6 to $20 per dependent;
- Prevent employees from being misclassified as contract workers and hence left out of coverage; and
- More explicitly require employers to report tips as wages to help ensure tipped employees are covered by UI if laid off.
More than 20 bills that include all of these policy recommendations and other important UI reforms currently sit before the Michigan Legislature. Unfortunately, these bills to address the real needs of Michigan’s unemployed workers languish while some elected officials instead base policy decisions on the false myth that UI is too generous, as the House and Senate have done by taking away federal UI enhancements. We hope common sense and compassion will prevail and that the Legislature will instead make changes to better support our workers and their families and get Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance system on par with our Midwest peers.
***If you have received a fraud determination that you believe was wrongly decided and you are on a limited income, there are legal aid lawyers who may be able to help you get the problem resolved at little or no cost. You can find out more by calling the Michigan legal services CALL helpline: 888-783-8190. If you are out of state and seeking legal aid to help with a fraud determination, you can find help in your state by clicking here: https://www.lawhelp.org/find-
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
