The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has reopened its Detroit Local Office following extensive upgrades aimed at enhancing accessibility, security, and efficiency for residents filing jobless claims. Located on the first floor of Cadillac Place at 3024 W. Grand Blvd. in the New Center area, the office is the busiest among UIA’s 12 locations statewide. Appointments for in-person services can now be scheduled up to 14 days in advance via Michigan.gov/UIA. Jason Palmer, UIA Director, emphasized that the renovations were essential for improving privacy and streamlining operations, aligning with the agency’s broader mission to deliver fast, fair, and fraud-resistant services. A key component of this transformation involves replacing the current outdated IT infrastructure with a modern, user-friendly system featuring advanced anti-fraud safeguards. Over the past two years, UIA has completed similar upgrades in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Saginaw, and Sterling Heights, with additional offices operating in Benton Harbor, Gaylord, Kalamazoo, Marquette, Muskegon, Sault Ste. Marie, and Traverse City. Beyond in-person visits, claimants can access support through MiWAM’s Chat with an Agent feature or by calling customer service at 1-866-500-0017, Monday through Friday. A suite of digital tools remains available around the clock, including the UIA Claimant Roadmap—a six-step guide to navigating benefits—and online coaching sessions covering topics like claim filing, appeals, and work registration. An AI-powered chatbot provides 24/7 assistance for common inquiries, while instructional videos, FAQs, and toolkits are accessible online. MiUI University offers information about the upcoming MiUI platform, set for full rollout in summer 2026, which promises faster processing, plain-language forms, and stronger fraud prevention. The UIA Economic Dashboard tracks regional unemployment trends, and the Advocacy Program delivers free legal aid for appeal cases. Federal workers who have lost jobs can find tailored resources at Michigan.gov/FederalWorkerHelp. Assistance options include scheduled meetings (in-person, phone, or virtual), live chat during business hours, automated chatbot queries, and self-service portals.
— news from State of Michigan (.gov)
— News Original —
Detroit unemployment office reopens featuring an improved user experience
Renovations are now complete at 5 Local Offices across the state n nThe Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency’s (UIA) Local Office in Detroit reopened to the public today following extensive renovations to create a more welcoming, secure, and efficient experience for Michiganders who need help with jobless claims. n nThe Detroit Local Office, on the first floor at Cadillac Place, 3024 W. Grand Blvd., in the New Center area, is the busiest of UIA’s 12 Local Offices. Workers can schedule in-person appointments up to 14 days in advance by going to the Schedule an Appointment page at Michigan.gov/UIA. n n“The changes we made were critical to improving privacy, security, and efficiency for people we serve face-to-face every day,” said UIA Director Jason Palmer. “The changes are part of UIA’s priority to improve the customer experience and transform the agency into a national model for fast, fair, and fraud-free service. That transformation includes replacing our current, outdated computer system with one that is user-friendly and which incorporates robust anti-fraud practices.” n nDetroit was one of five Local Offices across Michigan that UIA has renovated over the past two years, with work having been completed at the Grand Rapids, Lansing, Saginaw, and Sterling Heights locations. UIA also has Local Offices in Benton Harbor, Gaylord, Kalamazoo, Marquette, Muskegon, Sault Ste. Marie, and Traverse City. n nBesides Local Office appointments, workers can also reach UIA through the Chat with an Agent feature in the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) or by calling Customer Service at 1-866-500-0017 Monday through Friday. n nHelpful resources for workers n nWorkers can access these online resources at any time: n nThe UIA Claimant Roadmap, a six-step, user-friendly guide to applying for and understanding benefits. Access the roadmap at Michigan.gov/UIAClaimantRoadmap. n nOnline Coaching Sessions, which are web-based group sessions led by UIA staff on topics such as repaying overpaid benefits, filing a first-time claim, understanding a Monetary Determination letter, the protest and appeals process, and seeking work and registration requirements. The First-time Filer Coaching Session is also available in Spanish. n nA chatbot that leverages artificial intelligence is available 24 hours a day every day at Michigan.gov/UIA. Workers and employers can use either a desktop or mobile device to access the chatbot for quick and accurate responses to general questions about unemployment. n nFrequently asked questions, toolkits, and resources at Michigan.gov/UIA for information about unemployment processes and requirements. n nA library of helpful instructional videos on YouTube. n nMiUI University, to learn more about UIA’s upcoming new, modern MiUI computer system available to all users in Summer 2026. MiUI will be easy to use, speed claims processing, and build on the agency’s aggressive anti-fraud tactics. It also will include plain language forms and correspondence for easier understanding of what’s expected throughout the unemployment process. n nThe UIA Economic Dashboard, which tracks local and statewide trends in unemployment insurance at Michigan.gov/UIAEconomicDashboard. n nThe Advocacy Program, which provides free legal help when appealing UIA redeterminations. n nA comprehensive webpage for federal workers who have been terminated includes helpful tips about filing for unemployment as well as links to community resources at Michigan.gov/FederalWorkerHelp. n nNeed help with a claim or have questions? n nMeet with us: Schedule an in-person, phone, or virtual meeting at Michigan.gov/UIA. n nChat with us: Available through MiWAM Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. n nAsk online: UIA’s chatbot at Michigan.gov/UIA can answer many questions. n nSearch online: FAQs, videos, toolkits, and other resources at Michigan.gov/UIA.