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Michigan will launch the benefits component of its new $82 mn unemployment insurance system on November 9, 2026, replacing 14-year-old technology with a platform designed to improve digital access, simplify administration and allow unemployed workers to receive benefits weekly rather than every two weeks.
The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is completing the transition to MiUI, its new unemployment tax and benefits platform, which will replace the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM).
The modernization introduces updated online services for employers, third-party administrators (TPAs) and unemployment claimants, including software designed to work more effectively on mobile devices.
- Michigan’s $82 mn MiUI unemployment system will replace its 14-year-old platform on November 9, 2026, introducing weekly benefit payments and improved mobile access.
- Employers must obtain their MiUI activation codes before MiWAM permanently shuts down at 4:30 p.m. on November 2, even if they use third-party administrators.
- A statewide system shutdown from November 2 to November 9 will interrupt unemployment services as businesses prepare for new claims, appeals and account management procedures.
MiUI has been introduced in two stages. Tax functionality is already operational, and employers are expected to submit quarterly wage reports through the new system. Benefits functionality, including claims management, protests and appeals, is scheduled to become available on Monday, November 9.
The transition carries immediate deadlines for Michigan businesses. Employers must establish their own MiUI accounts before the existing platform closes, regardless of whether they outsource unemployment insurance administration to a TPA or payroll provider.
Michigan unemployment system shutdown begins November 2
MiWAM will permanently shut down at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, November 2, beginning a scheduled transition period that will continue until 8 a.m. on Monday, November 9.
Both MiWAM and MiUI will be unavailable during the shutdown while the UIA completes the migration to the new platform.
Employers face an earlier deadline for one essential requirement: obtaining their MiUI activation codes through MiWAM. Those codes must be retrieved before the existing system closes at 4:30 p.m. on November 2.
Without an activated employer account, businesses may encounter delays accessing unemployment benefit claims, submitting protests or appeals, and performing other administrative functions after MiUI launches.
During the transition, the UIA’s Office of Employer Ombudsman and Customer Service telephone lines will be unavailable. UIA local offices will also remain closed while the system update is completed.
Employers and claimants will retain access to the agency’s website at Michigan.gov/UIA and its chatbot, which will continue providing information about MiUI and general unemployment insurance questions.
Until the shutdown begins, employers should continue using MiUI for unemployment tax functions and MiWAM for benefits-related activities.
Employers must activate MiUI accounts and review administrator permissions
The UIA has emphasized that every employer must maintain its own MiUI account, including businesses that rely on outside administrators to handle unemployment insurance responsibilities.
Third-party access does not replace the employer’s obligation to establish an account. Businesses must also assign the appropriate permissions to TPAs before those administrators can manage benefits-related matters within the new system.
In its September employer newsletter, the agency encouraged businesses to review account access, staff credentials and user permissions ahead of the November implementation.
Two additional benefits-related roles have been introduced: “Edit Claims Forms Mailing” and “Edit Benefit Charges.”
These permissions allow authorized users to submit or update employee separation information, examine unemployment benefit charges and protest charges assigned to an employer’s account.
The UIA warned that TPAs already holding tax-related permissions may not automatically receive the new benefits roles. Employers therefore need to review existing access arrangements and make any necessary changes.
Activated MiUI accounts will allow businesses to manage unemployment insurance obligations directly, update employer information and delegate specific responsibilities to outside administrators.
Employers that have not yet accessed MiUI can consult instructions published by the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) explaining how to sign in to the new platform.
The agency’s preparation guidance also calls for employers to confirm that authorized staff can access their accounts and that login credentials are functioning before the transition.
These preparations are particularly important because employers will need MiUI access to review benefit claim information and file protests or appeals once MiWAM is permanently discontinued.
New platform introduces weekly unemployment benefits
For unemployed Michigan residents, one of the most significant changes is the move from benefit payments every two weeks to weekly payments.
The updated software is also intended to provide a more user-friendly experience, particularly for claimants accessing unemployment services through mobile devices.
The November rollout completes the second major phase of Michigan’s unemployment insurance technology modernization, following the earlier introduction of tax functions for employers.
The new system replaces technology that has operated for approximately 14 years and has faced criticism over its performance, particularly during the sharp increase in unemployment claims associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The difficulties experienced during that period exposed limitations in the state’s existing unemployment insurance infrastructure and contributed to the effort to update how claims and employer responsibilities are managed.
Under the new framework, MiUI will become the central platform for unemployment insurance tax and benefits administration, bringing employer reporting, account management and benefits-related procedures into the replacement system.
The launch requires businesses to prepare for changes in their existing administrative processes, particularly those involving account authorizations, benefit charge reviews and interactions with third-party service providers.
UIA expands employer training and transition support
To help employers, administrators and claimants prepare, the UIA has expanded educational materials through MiUI University.
The program provides training resources, instructional guides and updates covering the platform’s functions and the steps needed to complete the transition.
The agency has encouraged businesses to use these resources before November 9 rather than waiting until the new benefits system becomes operational.
SBAM has also arranged additional information for Michigan businesses through its Small Business Briefing program.
Jason Palmer, director of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, is scheduled to join SBAM President and CEO Brian Calley for a discussion about the MiUI rollout and what employers should expect during implementation.
The Small Business Briefing is broadcast live on Mondays at 3 p.m. through Facebook and SBAM.org, with recordings available afterward on the same platforms.
The discussion is intended to address practical considerations surrounding the transition, including preparations employers should complete before the existing benefits system becomes unavailable.
What employers should do before the November launch
The UIA’s guidance identifies account activation, access management and administrator permissions as immediate priorities for employers.
Businesses should retrieve their activation codes from MiWAM before the November 2 deadline and ensure they have established their own MiUI employer accounts.
They should also verify that employees responsible for unemployment insurance matters have the necessary access and that any payroll providers or TPAs have been assigned the appropriate benefits permissions.
Particular attention should be given to the two new roles covering claims forms and benefit charges, since existing tax permissions may be insufficient for benefits administration.
Employers should prepare for the scheduled shutdown of both systems and consider how the temporary interruption could affect their unemployment insurance administration.
Once MiUI benefits functionality becomes available on November 9, the platform will handle functions previously performed through MiWAM, including reviewing unemployment claims and submitting protests and appeals.
Businesses that have not completed account activation or assigned the necessary permissions could experience delays when attempting to respond to claims or manage benefit charges.
The November 2 shutdown is therefore the immediate operational deadline, even though the new benefits platform will not launch until November 9. Employers must obtain their activation codes before MiWAM closes permanently to prepare for the transition to Michigan’s new unemployment insurance system.
