Michigan's New Unemployment Rules Hit July 19: What Sterling Heights Workers Need to Know

For Sterling Heights workers relying on unemployment checks, the weekly job search has become a higher-stakes task: Starting with the week of July 19, 2026, claimants must report three qualifying work-search activities each week — up from one — to keep benefits flowing. If a claimant certifies with fewer than three qualifying activities, they will not be paid for that week. The rule applies immediately to active claims across Michigan with no phase-in period or grace window.

"Beginning the week of July 19, 2026, people who receive unemployment benefits must complete at least 3 work search activities each week," Amy Haight Graham, UIA spokesperson, said. "Those 3 work search activities would be reported when certifying after the week of July 19," Graham said.

Public Act 173 of 2024, passed as bipartisan legislation in December 2024, amends the Michigan Employment Security (MES) Act.

Qualifying activities include applying for jobs, submitting resumes, interviewing with employers, using Michigan Works! resources, and attending job fairs or employment workshops. Browsing job boards without submitting an application and applying for the same job more than once within a month are explicitly invalid.

Claimants must report activities via MiWAM (Michigan Web Account Manager) or phone, providing the date of contact, activity type, employer name and location, and method of contact. They must keep copies of confirmation pages or email records as proof if requested during an audit by the Unemployment Insurance Agency.

Sterling Heights workers in manufacturing and service sectors often experience layoffs and rehires, making unemployment claims a regular part of navigating the local job market. Workers who are awaiting recall to their previous employer or expect seasonal rehiring must still comply with the three-activity weekly requirement unless they qualify for a specific exemption.

Michigan workers who leave their jobs due to domestic violence can now qualify for unemployment benefits if they meet other eligibility criteria, effective July 2026. "Equally important is the support the law provides for survivors of domestic violence," Lisa Palmer, Director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, said. "If someone must leave their job because they or a family member is a victim of domestic violence, then they will not be excluded from receiving unemployment benefits," Palmer said. Employers will not be charged for these claims and will be protected from higher unemployment tax rates.

People who receive unemployment benefits and employers can now consolidate approved appeal cases into a single hearing before a Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (MOAHR) administrative law judge, effective July 17, 2026.

The maximum weekly unemployment benefit rate in Michigan is $530 for new claims filed on or after January 1, 2026, up from $446. The dependent allowance is $19.33 per dependent, up to five dependents, for claims filed on or after January 1, 2026. The maximum duration of benefits was restored to 26 weeks for claims filed on or after April 2, 2025, up from 20 weeks. The maximum weekly benefit rate will increase to $614 in 2027 and will be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index starting in 2028. Beginning the week of July 19, 2026, the allowable reduction in employee hours under approved Work Share plans expanded from 15–45% to 10–60%.

Workers who left their jobs due to domestic violence or who have multiple pending appeals should contact the Unemployment Insurance Agency to claim new protections effective this month. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity published detailed guidance on work search requirements and domestic violence protections on its website.