Adrian Fluellen, 29, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced for his role in a multi-state, million-dollar unemployment insurance fraud scheme aimed at defrauding the U.S. government and the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Maryland of funds earmarked for unemployment assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There's a new scam targeting thousands of Michiganders who rely on unemployment benefits from the state.

When you think of disasters at Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency it can be split into two.

In an effort to help “streamline” the processing of claims, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency will receive a new computer system within the next few years.

Mykia King of Southfield was sentenced Wednesday to 34 months in prison after pleading guilty earlier this year to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft arising out of a pandemic-related unemployment insurance fraud scheme.

If you’ve filed for or receive unemployment benefits in Michigan, officials are warning about a phishing scam targeting filers through text messages.

It’s a new email scam, and millions in Michigan are being targeted. If you’ve collected unemployment, you may receive an email that appears to be from UIA asking for personal information. However, if you look closely, you may notice misspellings.

Three letter carriers have been charged for accepting bribes from a Farmington Hills man to help him steal credit cards from other people and intercept fraudulent COVID unemployment benefits he sent to homes along their routes, officials said.

A 28-year-old Farmington Hills man bribed letter carriers to obtain other people’s credit cards and later expanded his scheme to have those carriers intercept fraudulent COVID unemployment benefits he had filed for and sent to homes along their routes, officials said.

More than 55,000 Michiganders will not have to pay back a total of $431 million in pandemic unemployment benefits that was improperly awarded to them, the state announced.

A Troy woman, who worked with Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency, and a Detroit man have been charged for running a scheme to steal unemployment benefits, authorities said.

A former member of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after a scheme designed to award pandemic-era benefits to people submitting false claims.

Michigan’s unemployment agency is making a significant investment in the system that has been a major source of frustration for many Michiganders.

Tax Day generally falls on April 15, but this year, most Americans will have to file their individual income taxes by April 18.

A man and a woman from Detroit have been sentenced for conspiring with a Michigan unemployment worker to steal thousands of dollars in pandemic relief funds.

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency is pausing its collection of new wages and interceptions of state tax refunds until next month while cases are being reviewed.

State auditors say Michigan’s unemployment agency did not require worker background checks or quickly deactivate former contract and state employees’ computer access to the confidential benefits system amid unprecedented jobless claims early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Southfield woman has been charged for using other people’s identities to make more than 35 fraudulent unemployment claims, police said.

Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Director Julia Dale took over the position in October 2021.

She filed for unemployment as an independent contractor and soon the checks she needed arrived, but then late last year she received a notification from UIA telling her she owed the state $17,000. She was stunned.

The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has been riddled with big problems since the start of the pandemic.

Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Director Julia Dale took over the position in October 2021.

Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Director Julia Dale took over the position in October 2021.

Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) Director Julia Dale took over the position in October 2021.

Michigan’s new director of the unemployment office was questioned by lawmakers on Thursday.

Are you not receiving payments? Are you being billed for overpayments that you don’t think are correct? Something else?

The Unemployment Insurance Agency said they have flagged 10,000 recent claims for fraud. Why is there such a dramatic increase this time of year?

A Detroit man pleaded guilty to stealing unemployment benefits from nine different states, and he tried and failed to do so in eight others, federal officials said.

The battle over unemployment benefits continues for thousands of Michigan residents who said they’re still owed money from the system.

House Republicans say this is just the beginning. They’re currently drafting the wording of legislation they hope to introduce soon aimed at reforming the Unemployment Insurance Agency.

Here are tonight's top stories.

Michigan’s acting Unemployment Insurance Agency director appeared before the House Oversight Committee Thursday to answer questions about the problems the agency has dealt with over the past 18 months.

An estimated 5.3 million claims were filed in Michigan.

The Unemployment Insurance Agency has added a virtual appointment option for customers needing assistance with their claims, including a dedicated link for customers who are deaf or hard of hearing utilizing voice to text closed captioning.

The expiration of the $300 weekly unemployment benefit boost impacts nearly 9 million people across the country.

Many Michigan residents have voiced their frustration with the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.

Federal officials have charged 14 people from Wayne and Macomb counties in connection with a fraud scheme to steal COVID unemployment benefits.

Michigan’s unemployment director was in Lansing on Tuesday as lawmakers demanded answers for everything that’s gone wrong with the system.

About 350,000 Michigan residents who received federal unemployment aid will not have to repay benefits even though the state told them that some reasons for eligibility it approved at the start of the pandemic were not OK.

People collecting unemployment may be at risk of having their identity stolen.

State lawmakers are demanding answers from Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency over an error that could end up costing people who collected benefits.

A Detroit man conspired with a Michigan unemployment worker to steal thousands of dollars intended to help people who lost jobs due to the COVID pandemic.

The state is investing millions of dollars into its Michigan Works! program in an effort to help unemployed residents find work.

Michigan is reopening 12 unemployment offices for in-person appointments.

Michigan residents who need to report work search activity by phone will have to follow a new certification schedule

Michigan residents who need to report work search activity by phone will have to follow a new certification schedule

New jobs and unemployment numbers show promise and a positive trend across the nation and in Michigan.

Michigan residents who are collecting unemployment need to watch out for a new scam.

Starting May 30, Michigan residents on unemployment will need to start looking for work to keep getting benefits.

Starting May 30, Michigan residents on unemployment will need to start looking for work to keep getting benefits.

Liza Estlund Olson was brought in to make major changes to Michigan’s unemployment system.

Frustrated business owners who are offering bonuses and upgraded wages testified in front of the Michigan House Oversight Committee that they can’t get workers because of expanded state and federal unemployment benefits.

A scam alert reveals how thieves are targeting Michiganders who are collecting unemployment benefits.

Extended unemployment benefits for Michigan residents will no longer be available after this week because the state’s unemployment rate dropped below the required threshold.

A new or additional claim for unemployment benefits filed within 28 days of the last day the claimant worked will no longer be considered to have been filed on time. LANSING, Mich – According to state law, some temporary expansions in unemployment eligibility and cost-sharing applicable to state unemployment claims are set to expire on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Unemployment expansions expiring include:28-day late filingA new or additional claim for unemployment benefits filed within 28 days of the last day the claimant worked will no longer be considered to have been filed on time. Individuals who are disqualified for state unemployment benefits based on these reasons may qualify for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Relaxed eligibility requirements for the Work Share programEmployers must meet and maintain the traditional requirements for Work Share plans.

Thousands of Michigan residents are still struggling with the Michigan Unemployment Agency while trying to get their benefits. A Metro Detroit father is one of the people who thought his issue was fixed, but then the money once again stopped coming due to another glitch. READ: Michigan officials say unemployment rate declined in February -- here are the numbersBrandon Gregware has been struggling with the unemployment agency. If you find yourself in a similar situation you should call the Unemployment Insurance Agency and set up an appointment. Thursday’s report from the Labor Department showed that jobless claims climbed from 725,000 the week before.

DETROIT – People in Michigan trying to file for unemployment or update a claim said they have been struggling to get the benefits they need. Officials said several upgrades have been made in the last few months, but there are two major problems that are persisting despite those upgrades. READ: Thousands of Michigan residents still struggling to get unemployment benefitsThe first is the online system just can’t keep up with the demand. The other issue is identity theft. The identity theft is causing accounts to be frozen and even just lifting the freeze is a challenge.

DETROIT – As with so many things during the pandemic filing your taxes this year is very different. There is a whole new list of challenges for many who may have collected unemployment or suffered job loss. This year here is what you need to know if you collected unemployment or a stimulus check. “I just think it is the craziest year because there are so many moving parts,” said financial expert, Tom Hakim. AdFor those of you who have collected unemployment or received stimulus checks, you need to know how this could affect your taxes.

DETROIT – It has been riddled with problems since the start of the pandemic, but on Monday the Michigan Insurance Agency rolled out some badly needed changes. In order to help the thousands of unemployed people across the state it rolled out an updated computer system. It gives you an idea of just how dysfunctional the unemployment system is when the newly updated system crashed Monday morning. This new update covers pandemic unemployment assistance known as PUA and pandemic emergency unemployment compensation or PEUC. Answer: This is an issue with the state’s MiLogin system and is affecting more than the unemployment system.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan residents who had PUA and PEUC claims that ended in December can now reopen, certify or apply for benefits, state unemployment officials said. Officials with the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency said they have completed system updates for the recently extended federal unemployment insurance programs. All remaining Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation claimants whose claims ended when CARES Act programs were interrupted in December can now either reopen, certify or apply for benefits available under the Continued Assistance Act, according to the state. A new provision under the CAA requires PUA claimants to submit proof of employment or self-employment to maintain eligibility. Workers on regular state UI benefits will no longer receive the PEUC extension automatically.

DETROIT – Some Michigan residents have been receiving 1099-G forms for unemployment benefits that they never applied for or received. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency was hacked last year. She said receiving the 1099-G is just the latest update in a long struggle with the unemployment agency. The larger problem for many people is that they’re getting kicked up into a higher tax bracket, where the tax bill is still higher. READ: Task force cracking down on unemployment fraud in Michigan

Unemployment claims in Michigan have been at an all-time high during the pandemic. DETROIT – Someone is hacking into the Michigan unemployment office and filing claims for people who aren’t unemployed, Local 4′s Rod Meloni has learned. The victims didn’t know about these fraudulent claims until they saw unemployment income that they didn’t receive included on their tax forms, officials said. Those residents are being pushed up into a higher tax bracket as a result, state officials said. Michigan officials have seen an increase in fraudulent activities surrounding unemployment as thousands of residents try to get benefits because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Federal officials said the two filed at least 66 fraudulent Michigan unemployment insurance benefits claims, causing a loss of more than $150,000. “As I have said before, those who steal unemployment benefits steal from all of us. Court records show they had the fraudulent benefits deposited into a variety of bank accounts, including some connected to prepaid debit cards. Officials said Armstrong has filed fraudulent applications for unemployment insurance benefits on behalf of people in Michigan, California and Pennsylvania. “The UIA remains committed to working closely with all of our federal and state partners on the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force to bring unemployment fraud cases to justice.”

RELATED: Michigan unemployment: Residents can start to claim remaining PEUC, PUA paymentsThere’s a new way people who are battling the Unemployment Insurance Agency can get help to solve these issues. The University of Michigan’s Workers’ Rights Clinic has law students assisting residents in solving what can be frustrating issues. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the school said the Workers’ Rights Clinic would average about 15 phone calls each week. The Workers’ Rights Clinic -- formerly the Unemployment Insurance Clinic -- offers advice, provides representation at more. To apply for legal assistance through the Workers’ Rights Clinic, visit the University of Michigan Law School’s official website here.

Michigan residents who have remaining pandemic unemployment payments can start to claim them this week, including the additional $300 COVID-19 benefit, state officials announced. Residents who claimed Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits and had weeks remaining on their claim as of Dec. 26, 2020, can start to certify their claims, according to the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. RELATED: Whitmer confirms start of $300 unemployment payments to Michiganders affected by COVID-19The certification process can be done through MiWAM accounts, officials said. Residents who didn’t exhaust their original 13 weeks of PEUC can claim the balance of remaining weeks, starting with the week ending Jan. 2, officials said. Claimants who didn’t exhaust their original 39 weeks of PUA payments can claim the balance of remaining weeks, beginning with the week ending Jan. 2, the state revealed.

The battle to collect unemployment benefits continues for many Michigan residents, but state officials said the $300 COVID-19 bonus is coming soon. State officials said that money is slowing making its way to Michigan. READ: Whitmer signs $106M relief bill, extends COVID-19 unemployment benefits through MarchThe Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payments run from Dec. 27, 2020, through March 13, 2021. They offer an additional $300 in benefits per week to Michigan claimants who were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Claimants don’t have to take action to receive the additional payments.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan has started making the $300 weekly COVID-19 unemployment payments to eligible residents who were affected by the pandemic. The Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payments run from Dec. 27, 2020, through March 13, 2021. They offer an additional $300 in benefits per week to Michigan claimants who were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. PEUC provides 11 additional weeks of benefits for those who have exhausted regular state unemployment benefits. PUA provides unemployment benefits to those not typically eligible for unemployment including self-employed and gig workers.

Gretchen Whitmer held a briefing Tuesday (Dec. 29) to discuss the state’s handling of COVID-19, a $106 million relief bill, unemployment benefits and more. Gretchen Whitmer signs a $106 million COVID-19 relief bill on Dec. 29, 2020. “I proposed this stimulus plan to the legislature in November because I know how much our families, frontline workers, and small businesses need relief,” Whitmer said. Whitmer vetoes other itemsWhen she signed the relief bill, Whitmer line item vetoed any items not subject to negotiated agreement. Requests for legislationWhitmer makes public requests of the Michigan Legislature during nearly every COVID-19 briefing, and Tuesday was no different.

Michigan’s most recent COVID-19 order has issued, extended and then revised tighter restrictions on the state over the past six weeks. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says the order has greatly improved the COVID-19 situation in Michigan, but does that timeline actually line up?

LANSING, Mich. – The three major metrics Michigan uses to gauge the spread of COVID-19 continue to improve, according to an update from the state’s top health official. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, updated the state’s case, hospitalization and positivity rates during Gov. These regions also have the highest case rates, though both are declining in that regard. As of Tuesday, 13.8% of inpatient hospital beds across the state are being used for COVID-19 patients, Khaldun said. While the numbers improve, nearly 71,000 people have been vaccinated in Michigan, Khaldun said.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s COVID-19 numbers have continued to improve in recent weeks, and Gov. READ: Timeline of how COVID trends have actually changed since Michigan issued, extended, revised order“Since my last press briefing, our numbers have continued to improve,” Whitmer said Tuesday. According to the governor, Michigan’s focus on science-based action, along with cooperation from residents, is responsible for the improving numbers. “Now, because of the actions that we’ve taken, and because so many Michiganders have done their part, our numbers are better than all of our Midwestern neighbors,” Whitmer said. “These numbers are encouraging.”While no announcement was made about further reopening parts of the state, Whitmer said officials are continuing to monitor COVID-19 trends closely to see if they’re affected by holiday travel.

Gretchen Whitmer has signed a $106 million relief bill and also extended COVID-19 unemployment benefits through March 2021. Gretchen Whitmer signs a bill extending COVID-19 unemployment benefits on Dec. 29, 2020. Forty states, including all of our neighbors, automatically provide at least 26 weeks of unemployment relief. Whitmer vetoes other itemsWhen she signed the relief bill, Whitmer line item vetoed any items not subject to negotiated agreement. Whitmer wants the Legislature to pass a permanent extension of unemployment benefits and an increase in weekly benefits.

The additional $300 weekly unemployment payments for residents who qualify for COVID-19 relief will be delayed in Michigan, officials said. Congress passed a COVID-19 relief package that extends the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation federal unemployment programs. “This federal extension will bring much needed relief to nearly 700,000 Michigan workers who are currently receiving benefits under the PUA and PEUC programs,” said Liza Estlund Olson, acting director of the Unemployment Insurance Agency. “We will have to make updates to our systems to extend benefits and renew the FPUC $300 supplemental payments,” the release says. Year-end tax statements for anyone who received unemployment benefits in 2020 will be available online in mid-January.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer estimates that the unemployment lapse would affect nearly 700,000 Michigan residents who are dependent upon unemployment benefits amid the pandemic. “We have hundreds of thousands of people in my state who are risk of losing their benefits,” Whitmer said on CNN Sunday morning. Get some relief to people,” Whitmer added, addressing Trump’s initial refusal to sign the $900 billion COVID relief bill that has been passed by Congress. Good news on Covid Relief Bill. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2020“Good news on Covid Relief Bill,” Trump tweeted.

DETROIT – Last month, when the director of the Michigan Unemployment Office resigned, promises were made that critical fixes would be made and help would arrive for the thousands struggling to get benefits. On Monday, those problems still remain. Many people have been going back and forth with unemployment officials for months with no end in sight. Many people are desperate for help. Watch the video above for the full report.

DETROIT – New unemployment claims have been increasing as states start to put new restrictions in place to deal with a surge in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. There were 853,000 people who applied for benefits last week, that’s the most since September. In Michigan, another 20,000 people applied for benefits. Local 4′s Hank Winchester found out that a lot of people are still running into trouble trying to get their benefits. READ: Michigan father locked in battle with unemployment agency over lack of benefitsWatch the video above for the full report.

DETROIT – A father of four has been locked in a battle with the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency since the summer. He hadn’t received any benefits, and after running into a problem at every turn he reached out to the Help Me Hank team for help. He has been working for months to try to get the benefits owed to him. Local 4′s Hank Winchester investigated and now the father will be getting his benefits. The problem was that the father’s identity had been stolen and because of that, his account was put on hold.

LANSING, Mich. – An audit to address issues at the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) found that shortcuts used to expedite payments left the agency vulnerable to fraud in hundreds of millions of dollars. The audit done by Deloitte cited multiple actions taken that caused problems. Michigan officials are warning residents of an email scam that is attempting to retrieve personal information from individuals collecting unemployment benefits. According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, an email is being sent to claimants seeking personal information. The email is being sent from a Gmail account that appears to be from the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) -- it is not.

Michigan officials are warning residents of an email scam that is attempting to retrieve personal information from individuals collecting unemployment benefits. According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, an email is being sent to claimants seeking personal information. Michigan residents are being warned of an email scam targeting individuals who collect unemployment benefits. (Michigan Department of Attorney General)Officials say the UIA would never ask a claimant to reply to an email with personal information. “Bad actors are increasingly sophisticated in their efforts to deceive people into giving away personal information,” Nessel said.

DETROIT – Thousands of Michigan residents are expected to file for unemployment benefits in the coming weeks as those working in the service and entertainment industries take another hit amid new COVID-19-related closures. As the Michigan health department’s new coronavirus measures take effect, the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is working to beef up its workforce and improve technology to serve those in need. These efforts have positioned the agency to better deal with large fluctuations of demand if necessary,” UIA interim director said. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency said people returning to unemployment because of COVID-19 should reopen previous claims, not make a new one. Use the same login information as you did the first time you claimed unemployment.

New COVID-19 restrictions lead to flood of new unemployment claims in MichiganIf you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan workers who returned to work after being on unemployment and are now temporarily unemployed again should reopen their claims online, officials said. “Michiganders who were on unemployment, went back to work, and are now temporarily unemployed again due to COVID-19 can reopen their claim online,” the UIA said in a release. Click here for more information on filing or reopening an unemployment claim, including FAQs, tutorial videos and other resources. UIA encouraged Michigan employers to file employer filed Claims online on behalf of their full-time workers who are temporarily or permanently laid off. The program allows job providers to retain their skilled workforce and avoid layoffs by reducing employee hours while employees collect partial unemployment benefits to make up for the lost wages.

The state of Michigan is looking to overhaul its unemployment office after the director’s sudden resignation. Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the Michigan unemployment office has worked through significant issues. The UIA has been flooded with calls, as more than 2 million Michigan residents have applied for benefits since the start of the pandemic. The system couldn’t keep up with demand, and many people were frustrated. UIA Director Steve Gray tried to answer questions from lawmakers, but now he is out.

Gretchen Whitmer has signed bills that extend unemployment benefits for residents who have lost work due to COVID-19 until the end of the year. Senate Bills 886 and 991 codify part of Whitmer’s orders that expanded unemployment benefits to Michiganders. “When we get back to session I look forward to taking up our bills to expand unemployment benefits and create stronger pathways to get Michigan families the resources they need during a pandemic,” said Rep. Darrin Camilleri (D-Brownstown). Since March 15, the state has paid more than $25 billion in benefits to 2.2 million workers. Michigan was one of the first states to begin issuing the additional $600 pandemic benefit from the U.S. government.

LANSING, Mich. – A major compliant for thousands of Michiganders working to collect unemployment benefits has been trying to reach someone on the phone to answer questions. With Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency offices closed, residents have no choice but to rely on the website or phone -- but some changes are being made to make it easier. Millions of Michiganders have filed for unemployment and many have collected, while others have had issues from fraud to basic problems like reaching a person. The website had many issues early on -- it simply couldn’t keep up with the enormous demand and the phone system kept crashing. However, UIA branch offices remain closed with no open date scheduled.

Michigan Unemployment Agency will soon take appointments for phone meetingsIf you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.

LANSING, Mich. – Hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents could lose their unemployment benefits if lawmakers don’t act in the next few days, according to Gov. On Tuesday, she called on the Republican-leg legislature to return to the Capitol and negotiate new orders. The two side haven’t been able to reach agreements since Whitmer extended the state of emergency without legislative approval in April. “These are the men and women who’ve lost a job and were counting on expanded benefits to put food on the table for their kids,” Whitmer said. On Sept. 8, Whitmer signed a bill to allow Michigan residents who qualify for unemployment to earn an extra $300 per week.

LANSING, Mich. – People who exhaust 39 weeks of unemployment benefits in Michigan are eligible for up to 20 weeks of additional payments, the state announced. The federal extended benefits program kicked in because Michigan has had an unemployment rate of 8% or higher for three straight months during the coronavirus pandemic, the Unemployment Insurance Agency said Thursday. People out of work get up to 26 weeks of regular benefits and an additional 13 weeks because of the virus outbreak. The weekly payment for those who surpass 39 weeks will the same as what they received for regular unemployment insurance and not include the since-expired supplemental federal benefit of $600 and later $300.

Gretchen Whitmer has signed a bill to allow Michigan residents who qualify for unemployment to earn an extra $300 per week as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues. The bill appropriates $2.8 billion in supplemental funding from revenues awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The $300 payments will continue until the relief funding has been exhausted. The bill also includes $8 million toward the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Illinois, a barrier to prevent invasive carp from entering Lake Michigan. It also provides match funding for disaster flood cleanup in Midland and Gladwin counties, as well as funding to cover costs for flood response and mitigation efforts in Detroit.

Michigan unemployment worker charged with stealing money from agency amid record demandPublished: August 26, 2020, 5:44 pmA Michigan unemployment worker has been charged with stealing money from the state’s Unemployment Insurance Agency at a time when thousands of residents are still having trouble getting benefits.

A Michigan unemployment worker has been charged with stealing money from the states Unemployment Insurance Agency at a time when thousands of residents are still having trouble getting benefits. More than 1.5 million Michigan residents have filed for unemployment benefits during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but the need is so great that many people have had trouble collecting their payments. READ: FEMA approves Michigan for additional $300 in weekly unemployment paymentsNow, officials are investigating a disturbing new twist: employees on the inside stealing from the UIA. Anyone who steals unemployment funds steals form the people of Michigan.Rose and another employee, Serenity Poynter 36, of Detroit, are accused of filing almost 100 fraudulent unemployment claims. Investigators said they used Poynters name to file the claims and used different social security numbers.

DETROIT – Thousands of Michiganders are still struggling to get unemployment benefits in the state. The progress and upgrades to the Unemployment Insurance Agency’s computer and phone systems has helped many but unemployment offices remain closed. The issues with Michigan’s unemployment system include phone issues, websites crashing, identity theft and even accusations of wrong doing by some new hires on the inside. Part of its reopening plan includes adding new safety partitions to the UIA offices, allowing for customers to be on one side, staff on the other keeping both sides as safe as possible. Additionally, the UIA claims it is currently developing an online scheduling system that will also include one-on-one meetings over the internet.

DETROIT – Michigan unemployment officials said the $600 coronavirus (COVID-19) unemployment bonus will end this weekend. The Unemployment Insurance Agency announced Friday that the additional $600 weekly unemployment bonus offered to workers during the COVID-19 pandemic will expire Saturday, barring congressional action. States don’t have the ability to extend the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program and it’s unclear if federal officials plan to extend, reduce or eliminate the payments, according to Michigan officials. The extra $600 bonus has been paid to eligible residents since the beginning of April. Unemployment officials said they have made determinations on all currently eligible claims filed before June 1.

DETROIT – The US Attorney’s office in Detroit has charged 39-year-old Brandi Hawkins of Detroit as a key figure in a scheme to defraud the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency of millions of dollars. Hawkins was hired as a contract worker for the state’s unemployment agency in April 2020. The feds say she used her access to sign off on $2 million in fraudulently filed claims. When federal agents went to her Detroit home they found $200,000 in cash and numerous new high end luxury items. The federal investigation is ongoing in tracking down everybody who received fraudulent funds as part of the scheme.

State worker accused of bilking Michigan unemployment insurance agency of $2 millionPublished: July 17, 2020, 11:13 pmThe US Attorney’s office in Detroit has charged 39-year-old Brandi Hawkins of Detroit as a key figure in a scheme to defraud the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency of millions of dollars.

DETROIT – The Michigan Unemployment Agency has been overwhelmed these past four months, struggling to serve a record number of people filing for benefits amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It was already bad for many of Michigan’s unemployed, but now the unemployment agency is catching heat for even more problems. READ: Michigan investigating if new hires are stealing from Unemployment Insurance AgencyOften times, people couldn’t get anyone on the phone. Local 4 reached out to the unemployment agency. The director said “it’s very disheartening that these criminals are taking advantage of a global pandemic to defraud Michiganders when they need unemployment benefits the most.”READ: Michigan taps Deloitte to expand unemployment capacity, identify fraud

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan officials are investigating whether some recently-hired employees are stealing from the Unemployment Insurance Agency. READ: Michigan unemployment officials reveal staggering number of residents still waiting for benefitsThe employees are accused of stealing, scamming the system from the inside. A task force was set up a few weeks ago to look at the internal issues and an investigation is moving forward. READ: Task force cracking down on unemployment fraud in Michigan“We made the hard decision to temporarily stop payment to accounts while we work with law enforcement and fraud experts to take additional steps to verify identities,” Steve Gray with Michigan Unemployment said. Recently hired employees are accused of creating accounts of charging users to help get them their benefits sooner.

Michigan investigating if new hires are stealing from Unemployment Insurance AgencyPublished: July 15, 2020, 5:35 pmMichigan officials are investigating whether some recently-hired employees are stealing from the Unemployment Insurance Agency.

Michigan UIA offices closed, unemployment claims unanswered amid ID theft investigationPublished: July 7, 2020, 5:38 pmThe Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency remains closed to the public amid the coronavirus pandemic, as tens of thousands of Michigan workers wait to receive a response or benefits.