Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency has been in turmoil since the economy was brought to a halt during the start of the pandemic. Lawmakers have brought forth a series of bills to reform the troubled agency.
State Representative Andrew Beeler, a Port Huron Republican, said, “A functional government should carry out its responsibilities in a thorough and timely manner. Those characteristics hardly describe our unemployment agency, which paid over $8 billion in fraud, approved benefits erroneously and slowed down many legitimate claims. The legislation passed by the House will repair the agency after disastrous delays, confusing communications and bungled benefits.”
The state House passed two legislative packages last week. The bills are now headed to the Senate.
The bills call for a clear, expedited timeline in which the UIA can review and decide on claims and more transparency. There would be a new unemployment insurance advocate.
The bills also ensure that nearly 700,000 unemployment recipients who received the money in error but applied honestly, would not have to return the money.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
