Michigan unemployment claimants now have to work harder to keep their benefits. Starting the week of July 19, 2026, the state tripled its weekly work-search requirement — from one job-search activity a week to three — and failing to log them can put a claimant’s benefits at risk.
What Changed, Specifically
Before this change, claimants only had to report one qualifying work-search activity per week to remain eligible for unemployment benefits. As of the week of July 19, 2026, that requirement jumped to three activities every week. Each activity has to be logged in the claimant’s online Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) account, and missing the requirement in a given week can result in benefits being denied for that week.
What Counts as a Work Search Activity
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) counts a range of actions toward the weekly requirement, including:
- Applying for a job
- Creating or updating a profile on a job search website
- Attending a job fair, in person or online
- Taking part in a skills training course
- Using Michigan Works! resources to connect with an employer
The list is broader than "submit a job application" alone, which gives claimants some flexibility in how they hit the three-activity threshold each week — attending one job fair and updating a LinkedIn-style profile can count alongside an actual application, for example.
Why the Rule Is Changing Now
The tripled requirement isn’t a sudden emergency measure — it stems from Public Act 238 of 2024, bipartisan legislation passed in December 2024 that updated Michigan’s Employment Security (MES) Act. Lawmakers built in an 18-month runway between passage and the rule taking effect, which is why claimants are only seeing the change now, in July 2026, rather than immediately after the law passed.
The same legislation wasn’t purely about tightening requirements — it also increased the maximum number of weeks a person can receive unemployment benefits, from 20 weeks to 26 weeks. So while the weekly reporting burden went up, the total benefit period a claimant can draw on also got longer. Michigan claimants are trading a lighter weekly requirement for a shorter maximum benefit window under the old rules, and a heavier weekly requirement for a longer one under the new rules.
| Rule | Before July 2026 | After July 19, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly work-search activities required | 1 | 3 |
| Maximum benefit weeks | 20 | 26 |
| Where activities are logged | MiWAM online account | MiWAM online account |
Waivers Still Exist for Some Claimants
Not every claimant has to meet the work-search requirement at all. Michigan offers a Registering and Seeking Work Waiver (RSW), which can be applied for during the initial benefits application process. If approved, a claimant is exempt from both the registration and work-search requirements entirely — no need to log activities each week. Common reasons for an RSW include being on a temporary layoff with a confirmed return-to-work date, or being enrolled in an approved training program. Claimants who think they might qualify should apply for the waiver at the time they file their initial claim, rather than after missing a weekly requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I only complete two work-search activities in a week?
You risk having that week’s benefit payment denied. The state now requires three qualifying activities logged per week, and falling short can result in a missed payment for that specific week.
Does this apply to everyone currently receiving Michigan unemployment benefits?
It applies to claimants who don’t have an approved Registering and Seeking Work Waiver (RSW). Claimants with an approved RSW are exempt from both registration and work-search requirements.
Where do I report my work-search activities?
Activities must be logged in your online Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) account.
Why did Michigan increase the requirement now instead of when the law passed in 2024?
Public Act 238 of 2024 built in an implementation runway before the new work-search requirement took effect, which is why the change is only appearing in claimants’ accounts starting the week of July 19, 2026 — about 18 months after the underlying law passed.
Did anything become easier under the new law, or did it only get stricter?
The same law that tripled the work-search requirement also extended the maximum benefit period from 20 weeks to 26 weeks, so claimants get a longer runway of benefits in exchange for the stricter weekly reporting.