Michigan unemployment recipients now have to report three work-search activities every week instead of one, with the stricter requirement phasing in through late July. The change comes from a 2025 law that also raises the maximum weekly benefit from $530 to $614 and extends the maximum benefit period from 20 to 26 weeks.
Who Is Affected
Anyone currently receiving or certifying for unemployment benefits in Michigan is affected by this rule change. It applies across the board to claimants working through their biweekly certification, not just brand-new applicants.
The stricter reporting requirement is part of a bipartisan bill signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last year that overhauled the state’s unemployment insurance system. Rather than taking effect all at once, it’s being phased in based on each claimant’s individual certification schedule, so not everyone hits the “three per week” requirement on the same date.
It’s also worth noting this isn’t a Michigan-only trend. Several states have tightened work-search documentation over the past few years as a response to concerns about claimants staying on benefits longer than necessary, and as verification technology (mostly online portals replacing phone-based reporting) has made it easier for agencies to actually check activity logs instead of just taking a claimant’s word for it. That broader context doesn’t change anything about what Michigan claimants need to do, but it helps explain why the requirement tripled instead of just nudging up slightly.
How Much: What Else Changed in the Law
The same legislation that added the extra work-search requirement also changed how much claimants can receive and for how long. Here’s the before-and-after:
| Change | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Work-search activities required per week | 1 | 3 |
| Maximum weekly benefit amount | $530 | $614 (effective Jan. 1) |
| Maximum number of weeks of benefits | 20 | 26 |
The higher weekly benefit cap and the longer maximum benefit period are meant to offset the tougher job-search documentation requirement. If you’re unsure which benefit amount applies to your claim, check your current determination letter or your account directly — the source reporting doesn’t specify how the increase interacts with claims that started before Jan. 1.
Deadline: How the Phase-In Works
Because the rule phases in by certification date rather than by a single calendar date, the exact week you’re required to hit three searches depends on when you’re scheduled to report:
- If you’re expected to report the week of July 19, you only need to certify one work-search activity for the weeks of July 5 and July 12.
- If you report the week of July 26, you’ll need to certify one work-search activity for the week of July 12 and three work-search activities for the week of July 19.
- After that transition window, all recipients need to report three work-search activities for every week going forward.
If your reporting week doesn’t match either example above, check your Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) account or the official announcement for your specific schedule — the phase-in is tied to individual certification dates, and this article can’t confirm every claimant’s exact timeline.
Practically speaking, this means the transition is a little confusing by design: two claimants certifying in the same calendar week can have different requirements depending on which certification cycle they’re on. If you’re not sure which bucket you fall into, the safest approach is to just log more work-search activity than you think you need for the next couple of certifications, since over-reporting a valid activity doesn’t hurt you, but under-reporting during the transition could cost you a payment.
How to Report Your Work Search
Claimants report job-search activity through the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM), the same system used for biweekly certification. Every two weeks, you fill out a questionnaire and log details for each job search: the employer’s name, the job title, and the date and method of contact.
What counts as a valid work-search activity:
– Applying for jobs online or in person
– Attending job fairs
– Participating in job-search workshops or seminars
What does not count:
– Applying for the same job more than once within a month
– Simply browsing or searching job postings without submitting an application or completing another qualifying activity
Failing to complete the required number of valid work searches for a given week can result in a loss of benefits for that period. It’s worth keeping a simple log — screenshots, confirmation emails, or a spreadsheet — as you go, rather than trying to reconstruct your activity right before you certify.
Related Resources
These aren’t specific to this rule change, but they’re useful if you’re navigating Michigan unemployment more broadly:
- Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) — for certifying benefits and reporting your work search
- Michigan Works! — the state’s network of job centers, useful for finding qualifying workshops and job fairs
- CareerOneStop (a U.S. Department of Labor site) — general job-search and resume resources that can also count as a documented work-search activity
FAQ
What happens if I don’t complete all of my required work-search activities?
Based on the reporting, failing to meet the requirement results in a loss of benefits for that certification period. Exact rules on partial compliance weren’t specified, so if you’re close to missing a week, contact the Unemployment Insurance Agency directly rather than guessing.
Where do I report my job searches?
Through MiWAM, as part of your regular biweekly certification.
Does applying to the same job twice count as two activities?
No — reapplying to the same job more than once within a month doesn’t count toward your weekly total.
When does the higher weekly benefit amount take effect?
The maximum weekly benefit increases from $530 to $614 beginning Jan. 1.
Did the maximum number of weeks of benefits change too?
Yes — the same law increased the maximum number of weeks a person can receive benefits from 20 to 26.
Is this rule specific to new claims, or does it apply to people already receiving benefits?
The work-search requirement applies going forward to anyone currently certifying for benefits — it isn’t limited to new applicants. If your claim started before this year, check MiWAM or contact the agency to confirm exactly how the phase-in applies to your certification schedule.
Can I get an exception if I’m in a union hiring hall, on a temporary layoff with a recall date, or in approved training?
Michigan’s unemployment system has historically allowed modified work-search rules for claimants in specific situations like union hiring halls or approved training programs. The source reporting for this rule change doesn’t say whether those existing exceptions still apply under the new three-per-week requirement, so if you fall into one of those categories, confirm directly with the Unemployment Insurance Agency rather than assuming your old exception still holds.
What’s the best way to keep track of my work-search activity so I don’t lose benefits by accident?
Since the questionnaire asks for the employer’s name, job title, and the date and method of contact for each activity, keeping a simple running log — a notes app, spreadsheet, or even a dedicated email folder for application confirmations — as you go makes the biweekly certification much faster than trying to reconstruct two weeks of job searching from memory.