MICHIGAN – OVER 47,000 MICHIGANDERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RETROACTIVE INCREASED UI PAYMENTS
Public Act 173 of 2024 went into effect on April 2, 2025. The legislation made several changes to unemployment law, including increasing the maximum weekly benefit amount for qualified individuals.
The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) estimates that approximately 48,000 out of 78,000 claims filed between January 1, 2025 and April 1, 2025 were impacted by this change. Not all individuals are qualified for an increase in benefits, but those that did received a Monetary Redetermination Letter. Additional benefits will be paid in one lump sum via the original requested payment format.
Despite legislation also increasing the maximum number of weeks of benefits, claimants will not be provided additional weeks retroactively.
Employers will see an increase in the benefit charges assessed to their account, when applicable. Reimbursable employers will see a dollar for dollar increase of up to $84 per applicable claimant for each week an individual receives benefits.
OHIO – MINI-WARN GOES INTO EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2025
On September 29,2025, Ohio will usher in its own mini-WARN Act. Primarily following the Federal WARN Act, Ohio will require employers to provide 60 days’ notice of mass layoffs or plant closings to affected employees, Director of Job and Family Services, and union representatives. This applies to employers with 100 or more full-time employees, and the employer lays off 50 or more people at a single site.
The Ohio Mini-WARN Act, however, will require additional details not required by the Federal WARN Act, including: a detailed explanation of the reason for layoff; information on how impacted employees can access unemployment benefits and available services like job placement assistance, retraining, etc. The employer must also address to the Director of Job and Family Services actions taken or planned to mitigate the impact of these layoffs. Some exceptions to the Act’s requirements will be allowed when strike related layoffs occur.
TEXAS – DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE BENEFITS AVAILABLE
Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is now available to individuals who were affected by severe storms and flooding that impacted South Texas in July. Impacted individuals in Kerr County may be eligible for DUA benefits. Additional counties may be added to the disaster declaration at a later date.
As a reminder, DUA is an unemployment insurance benefit made available after a disaster and is only available to individuals who:
- Have applied for and used all regular unemployment benefits from any state, or do not qualify for unemployment benefits.
- Worked or were self-employed or scheduled to begin work or self-employment in the disaster area.
- Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.
- Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.
- Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster.
- Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of household.
Impacted individuals can apply online through Unemployment Benefit Services or by calling TWC at (800) 939-6631 from 8AM-6PM CT, Monday through Friday. It is advised that individuals should indicate when applying that their applications are related to the damage caused by the Hill Country flooding. The application deadline is September 4, 2025.
OHIO – LAWMAKERS PROPOSE LEGISLATION TO CUT BENEFIT LENGTH
House Bill 376 was recently introduced in the Ohio House by primary sponsor Michelle Teska, R-Clearcreek Township. The bill aims to reduce the maximum numbers of weeks a qualified individual can receive unemployment benefits, down to 20 weeks from the current 26 week maximum.
WISCONSIN – DISTRICT COURT ORDERS STATE TO ALLOW UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES RECEIVING SSDI AND OTHERWISE QUALIFIED
US District Judge William Conley ruled that a 2013 law blocking Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients from collecting unemployment benefits unlawfully discriminates against people with disabilities. Individuals who receive SSDI will now be eligible for unemployment benefits if they lose work and are otherwise qualified.
The lawsuit, filed as a class action, classified two classes of impacted individuals: those who applied after September 7, 2015 and were denied because of receipt of SSDI payments and those who had received SSDI payments but then were ordered to return the payments. It is unclear how the state will resolve the situation as it appears the plaintiffs and Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) do not agree on remedies.
US CONGRESS: SHIELD ACT WOULD ELIMINATE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR STRIKING WORKERS NATIONWIDE
Republican lawmakers recently introduced the Securing Help for Involuntary Employment Loss and Displacement (SHIELD) Act, which would prohibit striking workers from collecting unemployment benefits.
Currently, workers in New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington can receive varying degrees of benefits if not working due to a strike. This Act would eliminate this possibility nationwide.
US CONGRESS: UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE MODERNIZATION AND RECESSION READINESS ACT WOULD MODERNIZE UNEMPLOYMENT NATIONWIDE
Democratic lawmakers reintroduced the Unemployment Insurance Modernization and Recession Readiness Act, aimed at overhauling the unemployment insurance system nationwide. Changes the proposed legislation would bring about include:
- Updated Extended Benefits Program, automatically adding additional weeks of benefits when unemployment increases
- Create new federal programs for workers, including a $250/week Jobseeker Allowance for individuals not eligible for regular unemployment benefits (self-employed workers, new workers, etc.)
- Establish new requirements for state unemployment programs, including:
- Require states to offer 26 weeks of benefits
- Replace 75% of workers’ wages
- Cover part-time workers
- Eliminate the “waiting week”
- Add an additional $25/dependent weekly allowance
- Provide federal funding to increase wage replacement to 100% during major disasters or public health emergencies
Thomas & Company will continue to monitor all legislation as it makes its way through the legislative process.
