The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose to the highest level in three months as the fast-spreading omicron variant disrupted the job market.

(AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)WASHINGTON – The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose last week to 770,000, a sign that layoffs remain high even as much of the U.S. economy is steadily recovering from the coronavirus recession. Thursday's report from the Labor Department showed that jobless claims climbed from 725,000 the week before. A total of 4.1 million people are continuing to collect traditional state unemployment benefits, down 18,000 from the previous week. No single factor fully explains the still-high level of weekly applications for state unemployment aid. In addition, the expansion of supplemental federal unemployment benefits has likely encouraged more jobless Americans to apply for aid.

Unemployment benefits are reduced based upon your earnings you receive when working part-time. Can I get unemployment benefits? I have a previous claim for benefits starting before 3/15/20, do I get more weeks of benefits on this claim? With these additional benefits, individuals may be eligible for up 39 weeks of benefits. If you have lost your job due to COVID-19, visit Michigan.gov/uia for more information and to apply for unemployment benefits online.

The Michigan Unemployment Agency is offering some guidance to residents who need to certify their benefits every two weeks. Under federal law, unemployed workers must certify that they are still unemployed two weeks after their initial claim is approved and every two weeks after. “Workers who need to certify their claims should avoid doing so on Monday and instead certify later in the week during off-peak hours,” said UIA Director Steve Gray. · Last names beginning with letters A-L: file claims on Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays. · Last names beginning with letters M-Z: file claims on Sundays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays.

Michigan will open applications for unemployment benefits for self-employed, contractors and gig workers on Monday, April 13. Newly eligible workers who have been previously denied benefitsSelf-employed workers, gig workers, 1099-independent contractors and low-wage workers who have previously applied for unemployment benefits and have been denied should login to their MiWAM account to complete the next steps for PUA federal benefits. All newly eligible workers will need to provide proof of income to receive the maximum amount they are entitled. $600 federal payments for newly eligible workersEligible self-employed workers, gig workers, 1099-independent contractors, and low-wage workers will begin receiving their state benefit amount (paid with federal funds) and the $600 federal payment as early as April 20. All eligible workers will receive benefitsThe UIA assures every eligible worker in Michigan who applies for unemployment benefits that they will receive them.

Under the CARES Act, individuals who are not already eligible for Michigan’s unemployment programs will now be provided a set amount of $600 a week for up to four months on top of the state benefit. These newly eligible individuals include self-employed workers, independent contractors, low-wage workers and those with a limited work history. This applies to workers already in the unemployment system and eligible employees about to apply. These workers do not need to reapply and those about to apply do not need to take additional steps and should file as usual. They will be notified by the agency with any additional action that may need to be taken.