District 6 News & Updates

Note From Erika

With the promise of warm weather just around the corner, I know many of us are looking forward to enjoying many outdoor events and to traveling, both domestically and abroad. However, I hope that you will continue to stay safe and healthy as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Please read our community update section for advice on traveling this year.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our office by email at SenEGeiss@senate.michigan.gov or by phone at 517-373-7800. 

Erika Geiss
State Senator
6th District

In This Edition:

• Legislative Update
• Health Insurance Marketplace Special Enrollment Period
• Michigan Treasury Offers Help for Those Who Missed Tax Deadline
• COVID-19 Vaccination Update
• Unemployment Assistance Update
• Community Update

Legislative Update

Bipartisan Police Reform Bill Package

On April 4, Patrick Lyoya was pulled over by a Grand Rapids police officer for a routine traffic stop. The interaction between both the officer and Patrick escalated and throughout the interaction, and the police officer had numerous opportunities to de-escalate the situation but failed to do so. Their interaction and the failure to de-escalate the situation culminated in Patrick Lyoya’s death when he was shot in the back of the head by the officer.

In May of 2021, the Senate introduced a 12-bill bipartisan package that would address several of the many problems with the interactions between law enforcement and their communities; problems that were exhibited during the traffic stop that led to the death of Patrick Lyoya. Since the introduction of these bills, they have languished in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

It is time that the Judiciary Committee votes on this bill package and send it to the Senate floor, so that we can send it to the House and then to the Governor’s desk, where it can be signed into law. These bills only nibble around the reform, accountability, and justice we desperately need, but they are among the steps we must take.  

Health Insurance Marketplace Special Enrollment Period

If you missed the January 15th deadline for 2022 health insurance coverage, you may still qualify for a special enrollment period (SEP) if you experienced a qualifying life event such as a birth, job loss, or divorce. Additionally, any Michigander who qualifies for Medicaid or MIChild can apply at any time.

The last day to select a plan during the SEP is November 30, 2022, with coverage beginning December 1, 2022.

For more information about getting started, contact the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) at (877) 999-6442 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You may also visit the DIFS website.

To review insurance options and enrollment, visit the health insurance marketplace or call the marketplace call center at (800) 318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).

Michigan Treasury Offers Help for Those Who Missed Tax Deadline

On April 25, the Michigan Treasury announced that they are offering assistance for those who missed the April 18 state individual tax filing deadline. For those who have an outstanding tax debt and cannot make full payments, they will be able to work with the treasury on payment options.

The Treasury recommends that past-due tax filers consider:

• Filing a return to claim an outstanding refund
• Filing a return to avoid interest and penalties
• Paying as much tax as possible

Taxpayers who receive a final tax bill and are unable to pay the entire amount can consider:

• Requesting a penalty waiver
• Making monthly payments through an installment agreement
• Filing an offer in Compromise application

>> Click here to read the full press release and for information on how to file.

COVID-19 Vaccination Update

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a second Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna booster dose is authorized if you meet the following
criteria:

• You got your first booster more than 4 months ago AND
• You are 50 years old or older
• You are 12 years old and are moderately to severely immunocompromised
• You received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for both your primary dose and booster

If you have not already received your primary dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or booster, now is the time to do so. Information on vaccines, vaccine boosters, and testing locations are available on the Wayne County website.

With both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services revising guidelines for masking, getting vaccinated and boosted now is more critical than ever to help protect ourselves and our communities — especially for those among us who are immunocompromised or otherwise cannot take the vaccine.

Beginning at age 5, children are eligible to receive the vaccine. The Wayne County Health Department has established three locations where you can get your child vaccinated.

Parents and guardians should consult with their pediatrician or health care providers with questions and concerns as these medical professionals will be the best people to offer the best guidance to your child(ren) and family. 

*The Wayne County Health Department handles the 42 Wayne County communities outside of Detroit, which has its own separate health department. 

Unemployment Assistance Update

The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has announced they are pausing wage garnishments for overpayment collections until May 7 while they review claimant accounts that may qualify for overpayment waivers. This comes after securing approval from the U.S. Department of Labor for eligibility waivers for Michigan workers who received PUA benefits. The UIA will be able to grant waivers to a broad set of workers who meet one of these criteria for overpayments:

1. An individual responded “no” to being able and available for work and the state issued payment for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation without adjudicating the eligibility issue.
2. An individual was eligible for payment and the state issued payment at a higher Weekly Benefit Amount under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program.
• To know if your claim will qualify for this waiver, your Notice of Determination, or Notice of Redetermination will list the “Issue” as “WBA.”
3. The individual responded “no” to being unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work due to the approved coronavirus-related reasons, and the state paid Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. When asked to self-certify, the individual did not respond or confirmed that none of the approved coronavirus-related reasons applied and the state issued payment, resulting in overpayment for the week.
4. The individual submitted required proof of earnings used to calculate Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Weekly Benefit Amount and the state incorrectly processed the calculation resulting in a higher weekly benefit amount under the PUA program.
• To know if your claim will qualify for this waiver, your Notice of Determination, or Notice of Redetermination will list the “Issue” as “WBA.”
5. The individual submitted proof of self-employment earnings to establish eligibility for Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation Program and the state incorrectly processed the information, resulting in overpayment.

>> Read the full press release here.

Senate Bill 445, signed into law by Governor Whitmer, now turns off the “able and available” requirement for federal unemployment claims filed during the pandemic. Part-time workers who could not work full-time will not have to pay back the benefits they received and/or may be eligible to claim benefits they were denied.

To know if your claim was affected by this “able and available” requirement, your Notice of Determination, or Notice of Redetermination will list the “Issue” as either “Ability” or “Availability”. It will look similar to the one below: 

If your claim was denied, you had your benefits halted, or your eligibility was re-determined because of the “able and available” requirement, please fill out the issue form on our website and our office will assist you.

As always, if you or someone you know who lives in Senate District 6 is having trouble receiving their Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), please fill out this unemployment assistance form and our office will reach out to assist you with your issue as soon as possible.  

You can also visit the Michigan LEO FAQ page for answers to questions you may have regarding eligibility for unemployment or for issues you may have with your current claim.

Community Update

With the Summer season fast approaching, people will become eager to travel again, especially as COVID-19 restrictions begin to loosen across the globe. If you are seeking to travel this summer domestically or abroad, please review the CDC’s traveler advice for information about routine vaccines, safety, and more.