MICHIGAN – UPCOMING UNEMPLOYMENT LAW CHANGES
A number of changes impacting Michigan unemployment will go into effect this July, including:
- Domestic Violence Victim Exception – Beginning July 17, 2026, Individuals who are forced to leave their job due to domestic violence may now qualify for unemployment benefits, restoring temporary protections that were put into place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Work Search Requirement Increase – For the week of July 19, 2026 and beyond, claimants will be required to complete and report at least 3 work search requirements each week to receive benefits, up from 1 work search activity.
- Work Share Expansion –Beginning July 19, 2026,employers will be able to reduce weekly hours between 10% and 60% to qualify for Work Share, expanded from the current 15% to 45%.
In addition, legislation passed in December 2024, which provides annual adjustments to the maximum weekly benefit amount (including dependent allowances), will result in increased benefit amounts on January 1, 2027. Starting January 1, 2027, the maximum weekly benefit amount will increase from $530 to $614 with a dependent rate increase to $26, up from $19.99. Then, beginning January 1, 2028, and annually on January 1 of each year, changes to the maximum weekly benefit amount will be tied to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index.
VIRGINIA – NEW WAY TO ACCESS THE VIRIGINA EMPLOYER SELF SERVICE SYSTEM
The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) is implementing a new way to access their Employer Self Service (ESS) system. Both the legacy portal and the new VEC portal will be available through the end of July 2026. Beginning August 1, 2026, the legacy portal will no longer be available, and all employers will be required to log in using ID.me.
If you already have an ID.me account, you can access the new portal with your account via https://employerselfservice.vec.virginia.gov. Just login with your email and password. However, if you do not already have an ID.me account, action is necessary to maintain access to the ESS after July 31.
This new access process will provide greater security, ability to share access with multiple authorized users, and one login for all services.
Additional information is available on the VEC website, https://www.vec.virginia.gov/employer-self-service, the ID.me website, https://help.id.me/hc/en-us, and via the VEC Employer Line at (866) 354-5579.
VIRGINA – CHANGES TO IFILE ACCESS DETAILS
Beginning August 1, 2026, employers will no longer be able to access their Virginia Business Online Services, aka iFile, account using their VEC account number. Instead, employers will need to use their FEIN to manage withholding and/or sales tax accounts with Virginia Tax.
This comes as a result of the state’s decoupling of Virginia Tax and Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) accounts, meaning employers will no longer manage their unemployment insurance tax needs through iFile and will be directed to the new VEC portal, which is accessed with ID.me.