February 28, 2010 marked the last date that unemployed Michigan residents were able to receive federally funded unemployment insurance benefits. What does this mean for Michigan Unemployment? Contrary to some news reports, unemployed residents still have several options.
Options
To begin with, if you have not exhausted your regular unemployment benefits, you will still be able to receive Michigan unemployment insurance; however, if you have exhausted the regular benefits, then the above date does apply to you.
Next, you can file for an extension that will allow you to receive benefits through March 27, 2010, but no further benefits will be available after that, and one has to qualify in order to receive the extended benefits. If you are currently on extended benefits, they will stop on March 27, 2010 as well.
If you are currently on one of the four different unemployment compensation tiers that are available through Michigan unemployment services, you will be able to receive benefits until you have diminished the funds available to you through that tier.
The Fight in the Senate
All of this means that the unemployed workers of Michigan may find themselves in worse financial conditions by the end of March; however, there is still time for things to turn around. If the U.S. Senate determines to continue to fund the unemployment benefits this week, residents will continue to be able to receive their federally funded unemployment benefits, as if nothing happened.
If you happen to be one of the many Michigan residents who are unemployed and are receiving unemployment benefits and you now have questions, call your local unemployment office. They will better be able to explain what you will qualify for and what you will not be receiving at this point. Rumors do fly in situations like this; however, find out the facts before taking everything that you hear to heart.
