New Work-Search Rules Hit July 19: What Sterling Heights Unemployed Workers Need to Know

Starting today, July 19, Sterling Heights workers collecting unemployment benefits face a new weekly deadline: complete and report at least three work-search activities to keep payments coming. The requirement, up from one activity, puts an immediate new obligation on the city's large manufacturing, trades and service workforce.

The change comes under Public Act 238 of 2024, bipartisan legislation passed in December 2024 and signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The stakes are immediate: falling short can stop benefits and lead the state to seek repayment of money issued in error.

What counts? Applying for a job online or in person does. So does attending a virtual or in-person job fair, taking part in a job-search workshop or seminar, or creating a profile or resume on a professional networking site such as MiTalent.org. At a job fair, a claimant must contact at least one employer and provide the event name, date and proof of attendance for the activity to count as valid. Looking through job listings without applying does not count. Neither does applying for the same opening with the same employer more than once within four weeks.

Workers must log their activities in the Michigan Web Account Manager, known as MiWAM, when they certify for benefits every two weeks. The rollout has its own schedule. People certifying during the week of July 19 must report one activity for each of the weeks of July 5 and July 12, then three activities for the week of July 19. Claimants certifying during the week of July 26 must report one activity for July 12 and three for July 19. From there, everyone must report three activities each week.

For Sterling Heights residents who need in-person help, the closest option is the Michigan Works! Clinton Township Career Center, 43630 Hayes Road, Clinton Township, MI 48038, at (586) 263-1501. It is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Nearby alternatives include the Warren Career Center, 30500 Van Dyke Ave., 4th Floor, Warren, MI 48093, at (586) 574-2170, and the Roseville Career Center, 15950 Twelve Mile Rd., Roseville, MI 48066, at (586) 447-9200. Both are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. All three centers offer job-search workshops, resume help and access to job postings that can support compliance efforts.

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency's customer-service number is 1-866-500-0017. Callers can choose Spanish- or Arabic-speaking representatives, while people seeking other languages can be connected with a translator. TTY service for people who are hearing impaired is available at 1-866-366-0004, and the agency offers virtual appointments with voice-to-text closed captioning for customers who are deaf or hard of hearing.

MiWAM remains the central compliance system, and the UIA provides materials in Arabic and Spanish, but the platform does not appear to have a full-language toggle for those languages or others. Since workers must report their searches online every two weeks, people without reliable internet or experience using online systems face a barrier with direct consequences for their benefits.

Disability or caregiving responsibilities do not automatically excuse a claimant from the work-search rule. A worker may qualify for a waiver if a condition prevents an active search or if suitable work is unavailable because of the worker's limitations. Waivers can be requested through MiWAM or by calling UIA customer service. Automatic waivers apply to workers expected back from a temporary layoff within 15 days for a short-term layoff, within 45 days for an employer-requested layoff, and to people in UIA-approved vocational training. Claimants who report late for good cause — including their own incapacity or that of a dependent, storms or a death in the family — may receive up to 14 extra days to report their work-search activities.