LANSING – Heavy call volumes from unemployed people have resulted in the state’s Unemployment Insurance Agency reassigning staff and adding capacity to its phone server. The agency is also urging people to file their unemployment claims online to avoid long waits on the phone or in person.
“January is historically the busiest time of the year for UIA; we ask for the public’s patience and cooperation so that we can service everybody as quickly as possible to ensure that they receive their unemployment benefits,” said agency Director Stephen Geskey.
The agency is telling people if they are unable to access the phone system during their regularly scheduled time to call back at anytime on Thursday or Friday. Online unemployment claims can be filed anytime between 7 a.m. Monday through 7 p.m. Saturday.
The automated phone system MARVIN can certify eligibility for unemployment benefits during claimants’ Monday through Wednesday call-in scheduled using the last two digits of the person’s Social Security number. If people can’t certify the benefits during that call in, MARVIN is also available between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.
Michigan’s 9.6 percent unemployment rate was the highest in the nation for the month of November, which is the latest data is available.
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