Michigan Unemployment Insurance

• To qualify for unemployment insurance benefits in Michigan, you must have worked a base period of at least 24 weeks for an employer that pays unemployment insurance, and you also must have earned a minimum amount during this time. If you willingly quit your job, you must show that you had just cause. You must also be capable of full-time employment, and you must look for a job continuously while you receive benefits.
  
  

Dependents

• In Michigan, you can claim up to five dependents on your application for unemployment insurance benefits. Michigan defines dependents as family members that depend on you for financial support. Because Michigan doesn't allow you to change the number of dependents you claim during a benefit year, you must include all dependents on your initial application for benefits.
  
  

Benefit Amounts

• As of June 2011, the Michigan Bureau of Workers' Unemployment and Compensation determines your weekly benefit amount by multiplying the wages from the highest quarter of your base period by 4.1 percent. You will receive an additional $6 per week for every dependent you claim. However, you can't receive more than $362 per week. You will receive benefits for at least 14 weeks, but you won't receive more than 26 weeks of benefits without an extension.
  
  

Considerations

• If you and your spouse are collecting unemployment insurance benefits at the same time, you can't claim your dependents on both applications. Since the compensation you receive for dependents in Michigan is the same regardless of your salary, it doesn't matter which of you claims them unless you are near the maximum weekly benefit amount. If one or both of you are approaching this limit, distribute the dependents over both claims to maximize your benefits.