FEBRUARY 9, 2009 - The state's Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is offering Frequently Asked Questions to better serve its customers.

"To better serve our customers, we've prepared this list of FAQs to answer many of the most common  questions our customers have about their claims," said Steve Geskey, director of the Unemployment Insurance Agency.

What is the easiest way to file my claim?
It's easy to file your claim on line at www.michigan.gov/uia.  The UIA website is available to take unemployment claims from 7:00 a.m., Monday, through 7:00 p.m., Saturday.  UIA has nearly doubled its server capacity  to help speed up the website; however, the best time to file is outside of normal business hours ( 8am to 5 pm) Monday through Friday. For those who don't have a home computer, another option is to use a local library that offers free Internet access.

How do I file by phone?
Call UIA's toll-free claims line at 1-866-500-0017.  Call and file by using a touch-tone telephone from anywhere in the United States and Canada .  A caller's scheduled time for filing by telephone is based on the last two digits of his/her Social Security number.

The MARVIN telephone number is 1-866-638-3993.  MARVIN online can be found at www.michigan.gov/uia and by clicking on the link - "UIA Online Services for Unemployed Workers." 

Schedule for Contacting MARVIN
Whether by Telehone or Online

MARVIN is busy; I can't get through at my assigned time.
If callers cannot get through to MARVIN at their appointed day and time, they can call MARVIN or use MARVIN Online on Thursday or Friday any time between MARVIN's temporarily expanded hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m .  MARVIN is also temporarily available on most Saturdays between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

I answered a question incorrectly on MARVIN.
To prevent mistakes in answering MARVIN questions by telephone, please remember to answer each question by pressing "1" for "yes" or "9" for "no" on your telephone keypad.  After all questions have been answered, MARVIN repeats the given answers.  Listen carefully and if the information is not correct press "9."  The questions will be repeated, and you will be able to correct any answers.

I called MARVIN today but my payment is not on my debit card or in my account.
It takes approximately two working days after calling MARVIN before the benefit payments are directly deposited into an individual's bank or credit union account or added to the worker's Michigan UI Debit Card.

I lost my Michigan UI Debit Card.
If a Michigan UI Debit Card is lost or stolen, a replacement card can be obtained by calling Chase Bank customer service toll free at 1-866-523-2122.

How can I have my unemployment benefits directly deposited into my bank account?
UIA now issues unemployment benefits electronically - direct deposit into a bank or credit union account or through the Michigan UI Debit Card.  Workers select their payment option as they apply for benefits.  If no choice is made, the worker will automatically receive the UI debit card.  The payment option can be changed at any time by calling UIA's toll-free claims line 1-866-500-0017 (select Option #2) or by creating a free online web account at the UIA website (www.michigan.gov/uia).  To create the web account users should click on the link entitled "On-line Services for Unemployed Workers."  The online web account will also give them access to a history of their unemployment benefit payments and allow them to use MARVIN Online.

I changed my payment option (debit card or direct deposit).  Did it go through?
Workers can see if the payment option has changed by checking their free UIA online web account (see answer above).

What else can I do to get help with my unemployment claim?
UIA has seven Problem Resolution Offices (PRO) throughout the state to help workers in resolving issues they may have with their unemployment claims.  The offices are open Monday through Friday and have temporarily expanded their hours from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and are located at:

Filing instructions for the federal EUC tier 1 program (20 weeks of benefits maximum) are mailed to unemployed workers who are about to exhaust their regular state benefits.  When workers exhaust their EUC tier 1 benefits, the second tier (13 weeks maximum) is calculated automatically and a determination is mailed to workers showing the additional weeks of benefits.  Workers do not need to apply for EUC tier 2.  They simply continue to call MARVIN.

Michigan issued Extended Benefits to those who are unemployed or underemployed, have exhausted all of their state and federal unemployment benefits and federal EUC  and cannot establish a new claim on or after 1/25/09.  In addition, those claiming EB must perform a work search and list the employers contacted each week.  EB provides up to 20 weeks of benefits.  UIA notifies workers to file for EB when they are about to exhaust their final EUC tier 2 benefit payments.