The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) offers two options for receiving unemployment benefit payments. After reading the pre-acquisition disclosures, claimants may choose to receive their benefits on a prepaid debit card or by direct deposit into their savings or checking account. Claimants must provide the necessary information to set up one of these two payment options in order to receive their benefit payments.
When a worker applies for unemployment benefits, they will be asked to select their benefit payment option. The payment method will be established once UIA issues a monetary determination, and the claimant has been determined to be eligible for benefits. Benefit payments will be added to the claimant's debit card or deposited into their bank or credit union account within two or three days after they have completed their biweekly eligibility certification. Claimants may certify online through the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) at Michigan.gov/uia, or by phone through MARVIN at 1-866-638-3993. Benefits payments will be issued in 2-3 business days after certification.
Individuals are not locked into one payment method for the duration of their claim. They can change their benefit payment method online through MiWAM or by calling UIA's customer service line at 1-866-500-0017.
To use the direct deposit option, claimants must have an existing account with a U.S. financial institution. Benefits may be deposited into either a checking or savings account. Claimants will need their account number and the nine-digit routing number for their financial institution. The sample check shows where these numbers are located on a person’s personal check.
Once the Direct Deposit option is set up, unemployment benefits will be electronically deposited into the claimant’s checking or savings account.