UIA Gaylord Local Office reopens after power outage from ice storm

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) today reopened its Local Office in Gaylord after being without power and internet service since March 31 due to a devastating ice storm in northern Michigan.

People who have questions on their claim can once again schedule in-person appointments to meet with UIA staff at the Local Office located at 931 S. Otsego Avenue Suite 3. Office appointments can be made up to 14 days in advance.

“Throughout this weather emergency, it was important that we made sure there was no interruption in service for those who need help with their current claims or with filing for unemployment,” said UIA Director Jason Palmer. “Our thoughts go out to everyone in Gaylord and the surrounding counties who are affected by this ice storm.”

After the storm hit and the Local Office was closed beginning March 31, UIA assigned staff from other Local Offices around Michigan to call those who had scheduled an appointment at the Gaylord Local Office to discuss issues with their claims.

Anyone seeking information about a current claim or filing for unemployment can:

• Call Customer Service at 1-866-500-0017 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Follow the UIA Claimant Roadmap, with easy-to-follow instructions on how to file a claim.
• Sign up for one of five different online Coaching Sessions.
• Visit Michigan.gov/UIA for helpful information, the Ask Ava chatbot, videos, FAQs, and more.
• Use the Chat with an Agent feature in the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM).

Solutions for Michigan workers, employers

UIA has created innovative resources that benefit workers and employers as it builds an agency that is a national model for fast, fair, and fraud-free service, including:

• Guidance for federal workers: A comprehensive list of resources at Michigan.gov/FederalWorkerHelp for federal employees who have been terminated.
• Expanded free legal help: Six additional advocates in the Advocacy Program to help more workers and employers with appeals of UIA redeterminations.
• New computer system: MiUI will be easy to use, speed claims processing, and build on the agency’s aggressive anti-fraud tactics. It will replace the decade-old MiWAM computer system used by workers to apply for benefits and employers to pay unemployment insurance taxes.
• UIA Economic Dashboard: A deep dive into underlying data and trends in unemployment insurance in Michigan at Michigan.gov/UIAEconomicDashboard.
• UIA Modernization Workgroup: A coalition of thought leaders from the labor, business, and jobless advocate communities that provides insight on how the agency can better serve Michigan’s workers and employers.
• Employer Help Center: This plain language guide at Michigan.gov/UIAEmployerHelpCenter answers employers’ questions on unemployment tax, claim issues and UIA programs.

Need help or have questions about a claim?

Meet with an agent: Schedule an in-person, phone, or virtual meeting at Michigan.gov/UIA.

Chat with an agent: Using MiWAM Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Call Customer Service: 1-866-500-0017, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Ask Ava: Our chatbot at Michigan.gov/UIA can answer many questions.

Find answers: FAQs, videos, toolkits, and other resources at Michigan.gov/UIA.