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LANSING, Mich. Michiganders struggling to get their unemployment benefits told lawmakers how frustrating the system is Thursday. An estimated 1.5 million people applied for unemployment benefits across the United States last week. Applications peaked at about 7 million applications in March. In Michigan, many residents are still having problems getting their unemployment benefits, leading to Thursdays hearing. Lawmakers heard complaints from employers and employees, all frustrated with the unemployment system.

DETROIT – With the extra $600 in unemployment benefits during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis set to expire next month, will the weekly payment be extended or replaced by a new “back-to-work” bonus? President Donald Trump’s administration wants to replace the $600 unemployment payment with a new “back-to-work” bonus. What does this mean for Michigan residents collecting unemployment right now? Millions of Americans, and around 1.3 million Michiganders, are collecting unemployment right now. “The idea is to give a bonus to incentivize people to come off of unemployment and go back to work,” financial expert Kirk Cassidy said.

LANSING, Mich. – The director of Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency provided an update Wednesday on how close the state is to getting unemployment benefits to the many eligible Michiganders trying to navigate the system. Navigating Michigan’s unemployment system has been difficult for many, as 1.6 million eligible applicants have filed for benefits. Local 4 Consumer Investigator Hank Winchester has been digging into the problems with the system as Steve Gray, the head of the Unemployment Insurance Agency, testified. “It’s now become clearer than ever that it can be hard to get unemployment benefits.”While many looking for unemployment benefits have had trouble logging on or calling, this is viewed as an opportunity to look at the situation step by step. “On average, before this crisis, just 26% of unemployed workers in Michigan received unemployment benefits.”More than a million people are still trying to get benefits, and many have had problems.