August 13, 2021
Dear Neighbor,
As your State Senator, I want to make sure you’re informed about state and local issues affecting our communities in the 18th District.
To that end, in the edition below, you can find information about:
- My recent legislative work on Climate Resiliency
- Washtenaw County Flood Update
- Federal Disaster Food Assistance Program Benefits
- Ypsilanti Township FEMA Document Drop Off Center
- Michigan Unemployment Agency Update
- Notice of Expanded Eligibility Reasons for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – Immediate Action Required
- Programs Ending Update
- Unemployment Assistance Available for Residents Affected by Storms in Washtenaw and Wayne Counties
- COVID-19 RESOURCES
- Testing and Vaccine Information
- Emergency Rent and Utility Resources
- Washtenaw County Barrier Busters
- Registration for my coffee hour next week
As always, you can reach my office at (517) 373-2406 or by replying to this email.
Jeff Irwin
State Senator
18th District
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Democrats Announce Bold Climate Resilience Plan, Water Infrastructure Investment for Michigan
On Tuesday, Aug. 10th, I joined my Democratic colleagues from the Michigan Senate and House to announce a Climate Resilience Plan. This plan would enact systemic changes and provide much-needed funding to Michigan’s aging infrastructure and also address the devastating effects of widespread flooding caused by extreme climate events. Our plan will put thousands of people to work, and make long-term improvements to protect our drinking water, our Great Lakes, and our basements.
Included in the climate resilience plan are proposals for:
- Climate Resilience Corps: A job training and apprenticeship program focused on sustainability and resilience projects, which includes hazard mitigation and adaptation plans.
- Disaster relief navigator program to assist those struggling with navigating disaster assistance and emergency relief support systems.
- Requirements for redundancy planning for transportation pumps and power sources.
- Adequate disaster alert systems at the state and local levels for emergency notifications.
- Planning and asset management policies that require new and reconstructed infrastructure to be designed to avoid or minimize flood impacts, require separation of storm water systems, encourage local governments to develop climate resiliency plans, update the drain code, foster regional collaboration, and more.
- Michigan weatherization and jobs plan that expands on existing federal programs by expanding the types of eligible weatherization projects and increases the number of good-paying jobs for weatherization.
WASHTENAW COUNTY FLOOD UPDATE
Residents and business owners who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.
Additionally, the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development has compiled a list of resources available to residents affected by flooding.
FEDERAL DISASTER FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS
Residents of Washtenaw County impacted by recent flooding who are not already receiving food assistance benefits can soon apply for Federal Disaster Food Assistance Program benefits.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) will accept in-person applications during specific hours based on the applicant’s last name. Washtenaw County residents can apply on seven specific dates from Thursday, Aug. 12th through Thursday, Aug. 19th at one of the following locations.
- Ypsilanti Middle School, 510 Emerick St., Ypsilanti, MI 48198
- Washtenaw County Learning Resource Center, 4135 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48108
More information about disaster food assistance is available from MDHHS.
FEMA ASSISTANCE AT THE YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP CIVIC CENTER
There is now a FEMA Document Drop Off Center (DDC) located in Ypsilanti Township at 7200 S. Huron River Dr., Ypsilanti, MI 48197, open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The center will be available for from July 27th to Sept. 13th, and is staffed with FEMA personnel who can scan documents and quickly answer questions about FEMA assistance programs. The deadline for individuals to apply for disaster assistance is Monday, Sept. 13, 2021.
Applicants and staff at the centers will be required to follow CDC COVID-19 safety guides. Before visiting, survivors should register for federal assistance either by:
- Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
- Using the FEMA mobile app
- Call 800-621-3362 (TTY:800-462-7585) from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Applicants do not have to visit a center to submit documents to FEMA. You can mail, fax or submit them online as well. Information about these options can be found in your FEMA letter. If you don’t understand your FEMA letter, call 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and ask for assistance.
MICHIGAN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE UPDATE
Notice of Expanded Eligibility Reasons for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – Immediate Action Required
Many individuals are receiving letters from the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) asking you to re-file your unemployment claim. These letters may be alarming and confusing, and I want you to know you can reach out to my office if you need help.
Simply put, Michigan’s PUA program included four reasons that the United State Department of Labor (USDOL) did not approve. Because of this, UIA is asking individuals who received unemployment to re-submit their claim using a provided list of qualifying reasons. Individuals may pick several reasons as situations change and many reasons may apply to an individual’s specific circumstance.
What to Do
Log in to your MiWAM account and click on the “Requalify for PUA” link under the Alerts tab which will provide a Self-Attestation response form for each week that you certified for unemployment assistance. You do not have to pick the same reason for each week and you can pick more than one if they apply to your situation.
Once the self-attestation of eligibility is processed, you will receive a redetermination letter. If it is found that you are not eligible, you can appeal the redetermination. If it is determined that you were not eligible and receive an overpayment letter, UIA will evaluate and determine if you are eligible to receive a waiver so that you do not have to pay restitution. If you receive an overpayment letter, please contact my office to assist you in requesting a waiver. Unless UIA determines that you were intentionally deceptive when seeking benefits, a waiver should be granted.
Programs Ending Update
The unemployment benefit programs Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), and Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) which were extended as part of the federal American Rescue Plan Act are now set to expire on Sept. 4, 2021. After this date, these programs will no longer be available to new UI applicants or to existing claims.
All protests and adjunctions that are pending determinations on Sept. 4, 2021, will continue through the process despite these programs ending, and benefits will be paid to claimants determined to be eligible.
I understand that this may be confusing and frustrating, please feel free to reach out to my office at (517) 373-2406 or by filling out our unemployment assistance form.
Unemployment Assistance Available for Residents Affected by Storms in Washtenaw and Wayne Counties
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to eligible individuals due to a major disaster declared by President Joe Biden on July 15, 2021. The Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency is accepting applications for DUA from individuals in Washtenaw and Wayne Counties whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to Severe Storms and Flooding between June 25 and June 26, 2021. Applications for DUA must be filed by Aug. 23, 2021.
To be eligible for DUA benefits under the Presidential Disaster Declaration, individuals must:
- Apply for regular unemployment insurance benefits.
- Not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state.
- Be an unemployed or self-unemployed worker whose unemployment was caused as a direct result of the major disaster declared by the President.
- Be a U.S. national or a qualified alien.
- Have worked or was self-employed in, or was scheduled to begin work or self-employment in, one of the counties listed above.
- Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.
Other individuals eligible to apply for DUA are those who:
- Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of this disaster.
- Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury caused as a direct result of this disaster.
- Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of the household as a direct result of this disaster.
- Cannot work or perform self-employment due to closure of a facility by the federal government as a direct result of this disaster.
If you have questions about either of these options or need assistance please contact my office at (517) 373-2406 or by filling out the unemployment form on my website.
COVID-19 RESOURCES
Washtenaw County Testing Update
Don’t miss your chance to join the Free At-Home Testing Challenge!
Washtenaw County Health Department, the CDC, and the NIH are collaborating to facilitate access to free, rapid, at-home COVID-19 test kits for Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti households. Test two times a week to help protect your family and our community. Learn about the program and sign up at COVIDTestAAYpsi.org.
Additional COVID-19 testing information can be found from Washtenaw County.
Washtenaw County Vaccine Update
Good news: More than 70% of Washtenaw County residents 16+ have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine!
If you or someone you know still needs to get the COVID-19 vaccine, you can still get vaccinated. Learn more from Washtenaw County.
Emergency Rent and Utility Resources
Need help with rent, utilities, and internet bills?
Apply today at michigan.gov/CERA.
You can also access the CERA online application, links to paper applications, and a new user guide which walks tenants and landlords through the application process at www.washtenaw.org/3421/CERA.
Washtenaw County Barrier Busters
Barrier Busters is a group of 90+ social service agencies committed to improving services for Washtenaw County residents in need. To serve residents, member agencies have access to the “Barrier Busters Emergency Unmet Needs Fund,” which is made up of public and private funds to provide social workers, case managers, and other direct service providers access to emergency assistance funds for clients.
This fund provides agencies an efficient way to prevent evictions and utility shut-offs and assist with other emergency costs that threaten residents’ housing and financial stability. Residents in need work with their existing provider to access financial assistance.
If you or someone you know needs assistance, you can find information from Washtenaw County and find an agency provider.
COFFEE HOUR UPDATES
Please join me at our upcoming coffee hour on Wednesday, Aug. 18th, via Zoom or Facebook Live from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
To receive the Zoom access code, please fill out this form.
Watch via Facebook Live on my Facebook page.
If you are unable to access the form or have any problems with the link, please contact my office at (517)-373-2406 or by responding to this email.
I will provide a legislative update on my work for you in Lansing at the coffee hour and answer questions that you submit. I hope to see you all there!