A version of this column originally appeared in The Alpena News.
Whether it be a family member, friend, neighbor, or even ourself, we all likely know someone who has lost a job through no fault of their own and needed to rely on unemployment insurance benefits while they looked for new work. It’s a vulnerable position to be in, especially when the person out of work is the primary earner in a family, which is why unemployment insurance benefits are so critically important.
Unemployment insurance benefits provide a lifeline in uncertain financial times, but state programs must be continuously evaluated and updated to ensure people’s basic needs are being met. Here in Michigan, our state’s unemployment insurance program has unfortunately fallen behind on the policy front, but the House recently made a strong move toward improving and modernizing the program through the passage of House Bill (HB) 5827. This legislation would extend unemployment insurance benefits to a maximum of 26 weeks, up from the current 20 weeks, which would bring Michigan in line with the majority of other states. Currently, Michigan is one of only 12 states that does not offer up to 26 weeks (or more) in unemployment insurance benefits.
To be clear, extending the duration of benefits does not mean that all Michiganders who find themselves out of work are going to need that much time to find a new job. In fact, Michiganders used an average of only 12 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits out of the maximum 20 weeks before the pandemic and an average of only 14 weeks when the duration of benefits was temporarily increased to 26 weeks during the pandemic. This tells us that people don’t stay on unemployment by choice and they want to get back into the workforce as soon as possible.
However, there are people who need the maximum time provided to do a thorough job search, especially those who are living in communities where good work opportunities may be harder to come by. For example, job seekers in rural areas may need more time to find a good job than people living in large cities where there are significantly more jobs to choose from.
When benefits run out at just 20 weeks, workers with limited choices are often backed into a corner and must take whatever job is available, even if it’s a job that does not pay well and offers few benefits. This can have a detrimental impact on household budgets, leaving families far worse off than they were before and potentially leading to higher rates of poverty and more households that are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE).
Here at the Michigan League for Public Policy, we applaud the House for recognizing the importance of this much-needed improvement to Michigan’s unemployment insurance program and we hope to see the Senate and governor follow suit by giving this common-sense legislation the green light. Making this legislation a reality would be a win for all working Michiganders, especially those living in regions where we see the highest rates of joblessness, which includes the Upper Peninsula and northeast Michigan.
The improvements to our state’s unemployment insurance program shouldn’t stop at the duration of benefits though. The Michigan Legislature should also raise the weekly benefit amount, which has sat stagnant at $362 since 2002. Given the significant increases in the cost of living over the past 22 years, a weekly payment of $362 is simply not enough for a family to get by during periods of unemployment. Improving the maximum weekly benefit amount would be a win-win as it would help families afford basic life necessities, while also keeping consumer dollars flowing into local communities and businesses.
Michiganders work hard, but they are vulnerable to layoffs regardless of how hard they work. They deserve support and stability when they find themselves in between jobs. Let’s make the smart policy choices that will strengthen Michigan’s unemployment insurance program for working Michiganders and bring our state up to speed with the majority of other states in the Midwest and beyond.
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.
