Getting Help with Confusing or Improper Overpayment Assessments

If you believe that the Unemployment Insurance Agency made a mistake such as accusing you of receiving benefits you never received, miscalculating your overpayment, or any other potential error, you should seek legal assistance. Free legal help may be available through the Counsel and Advocacy Law Line (CALL) at 1-888-783-8190. 

How do I get help with my unemployment claim?

Depending on your location and income level, you may qualify for representation or counseling from one or more of the following groups offering UI representation.  The first number on the list (CALL) provides a Michigan state-wide entry point for all people who received new collection notices: 

• The Counsel & Advocacy Law Line (CALL) provides screening and statewide referrals (888) 783-8190 or (248) 569-9658 to legal aid non-profits, such as
• Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (https://lsem-mi.org/)
• Legal Services of South Central Michigan (https://lsscm.org/)
• Legal Aid of Western Michigan (https://lawestmi.org/)
• Lakeshore Legal Aid (Southeast Michigan) (https://lakeshorelegalaid.org/)
• Legal Services of Northern Michigan (https://lsnm.org/)
• Sugar Law Center (statewide) (https://www.sugarlaw.org/)

Under the previous class action settlement, the UIA committed over $1.6 million to a relief fund to support the above services. However, some have income limits for the people they can serve.  If you do not qualify based on income/asset-level there are some private attorneys that handle UIA collection matters.  The State Bar of Michigan also maintains a referral list of private attorneys for hire.

I received a UIA Collection Letter What Can I Do?

If you received an email or a bill regarding UIA overpayment collections, here are five things you can do.

1.       Log in to MiWAM. you may not have used the State’s MiWAM system for several years.  Likely this will require a password reset. Reviewing all letters from the UIA is important.  The UIA has instructions for resetting passwords and accessing accounts through MiLogin and MiWAM here.

•          Once you have access, on the opening page of MiWAM – you may see an outstanding balance alert.  Check that this amount matches the bill amount on Form 1088 – Collections Bill.  If your automated collection does not match the bill you received, there has been an administrative error.  If you have a pending protest or appeal that has not been addressed, this is an administrative error.  If your last notice from the UIA or an administrative law judge said you were eligible and qualified for the benefits you received, then collection activity is also an administrative error.

•          Look for any determinations. “If you did not receive any notice of the (re)determination that is the basis of this collection activity, you may file a late protest or appeal of the (re)determination(s). If your request is denied by the Unemployment Insurance Agency, you may further appeal the denial requesting a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). If you are successful in reopening your case, you will be entitled to a hearing on the underlying issue.” You will find this language on all UIA Collection Letters (form 1088).

2.       Request a waiver. The UIA is required to waive overpayment collection if the overpayment was caused by: (1) an administrative error, (2) if financial hardship is established based on income/asset levels, or (3) for other reasons. Claimants facing collections should request a waiver for all reasons that apply. A waiver form is available on Michigan Legal Help, a non-profit legal resource for unrepresented people. Click here for MLH’s guide to review and complete a waiver application.

3.       Request your UI file. Many UIA “determinations” related to your matter may not appear on MiWAM or may have been removed. Therefore, getting your UI file will help you understand the UIA determinations causing overpayment and will assist a legal review if you are seeking legal help. Every unemployment recipient has a right to review their claim file.  You can submit UIA form 6102 if you want this information. You will have to explain what you want on the top of page two.  For instance, if you want your whole file, you can request the following:

Please provide my complete claim file as required under MCL 421.11(b), including all determinations or redeterminations regarding benefit entitlement AND all determinations of restitution due regarding all unemployment insurance claims I filed with the Michigan UIA.

After you complete the form 6102, follow instructions at the bottom of the form to submit it by email.

4.       Contact your elected officials. State representatives, such as your House or Senate representative, often have resources to connect to managers at the UIA and address agency collection errors. You can find contact information for your elected officials by entering your zip code here.  

5.       Seek legal help. If you believe that the Unemployment Insurance Agency made a mistake, such as accusing you of receiving benefits you never received, miscalculating your overpayment, or any other potential error, you can seek legal assistance from one of the resources listed at the top of this page.

What Happened?

The UIA was ordered to stop all collections from December of 2022 until May of 2025, based on the prior class action in Saunders et al v. UIA et al.  Beginning in September 2025, the Michigan Unemployment Agency re-initiated overpayment collections for pandemic era benefits. The UIA’s new Director, Jason Palmer, says the Agency has a “legal and fiduciary duty” to restart these new collection attempts and seek $2.7 Billion in alleged overpayments from 350,000 Michiganders who relied on pandemic era benefits. The Agency provides its own “Frequently Asked Questions” available here.

Our office is currently exploring all options to address this tragic policy choice. However, we are unable to give advice or provide representation on individual collection cases. If you believe that the Unemployment Insurance Agency made a mistake, such as accusing you of receiving benefits you never received, miscalculating your overpayment, or any other potential error, you can seek legal assistance from one of the resources listed at the top of this page.