Unemployment Extended Benefits program in Michigan ends April 17

LANSING, Mich. - Due to the State of Michigan’s lower unemployment rate, the U.S. Department of Labor notified the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency to confirm that our state’s Extended Benefits (EB) program will no longer be payable after the week ending April 17, 2021.

Extended Benefits are available when a Michigan’s total unemployment rate averages 6.5% or higher for three consecutive months.

RELATED LINK: UIA stops new wave of imposter claims for pandemic unemployment assistance

“Fortunately, with the federal extensions that were implemented on March 27, claimants who were on the Extended Benefits program most likely will be able to receive benefits through other federal programs such as Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), said Liza Estlund Olson, acting director of the Unemployment Insurance Agency.

Michigan has paid approximately $419M in Extended Benefits since high unemployment rates triggered the Extended Benefits program.

RELATED LINK: Business owners having extremely difficult time finding workers

The Agency has begun notifying the 16,000 claimants currently receiving Extended Benefits to ensure they are aware that the week ending April 17, 2021, is the last payable week for these benefits.