As the U.S. Congress is set to debate extending long-term unemployment benefits for up to 1.3 million Americans, cuts to Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) test the patience of jobless workers attempts to receive 20 weeks of state funded benefits."
Michigan's UIA laid off up to 400 employees, comprising of 225 permanent staff members and 177 limited-term employees on August 31, 2012.
Numbers of UIA temporarily placed problem resolution offices as a result of the layoffs, closed statewide. A reduced number employees are available to answer phone calls questions in Michigan via a singular toll free phone number for up to 413,000 jobless workers, according to the State Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) November 2013 report.
Reaching Unemployment Claims Representatives at UIA present challenges for state residents as Michigan's jobless rate remains stubbornly high at 8.8%, the fourth highest in the nation. Calls to reach UIA via phone can take either days or weeks in lieu of a reasonable expected response of an hour.
Westland, Michigan resident Annabelle Stevens, a single Mother of two, described her frustrations reach Michigan UIA toll-free number for questions on her claim.
"It's ridiculous to call UIA, they never answer the phone," said Stevens. "The worse part of all is I worked for years before my laid off to receive unemployment if necessary and I'm insulted by being treated as a welfare case".
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http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2014/01/michigan-unemployment-insurance-agency.html#axzz2pBE2bkaR
Michiganders must CLEAN HOUSE in Lansing during Elections 2014!