Maximum weeks extended and payouts bigger for Michigan unemployment benefits beginning next month

LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Major changes in Michigan’s unemployment insurance law go into effect next week.

Wednesday, April 2 the law increases the maximum benefit amount by $84 a week, extends the maximum weeks benefits can be collected to 26, and more than doubles the amount per dependent.

The weekly unemployment benefits boost is the first for Michigan workers since the maximum amount was increased to $362 a week in 2002.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the changes to unemployment law in December, but the Michigan Legislature did not give immediate effect to the legislation, meaning the earliest the changes could be implemented is April 2.