September 4, 2021
Friends,
As students, teachers, and staff across the state return to the classroom, please be sure to talk with your children about making smart, healthy, and safe choices as we continue to navigate a world with COVID-19 and the new Delta variant. I remain committed to ensuring our educators have all the resources they need to aid our children through these challenging times.
Included in this newsletter are updates regarding AG Nessel’s fight to protect anti-discrimination legislation, as well as resources that aim to help you in registering and creating a plan to vote during this National Voter Registration month.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at (517) 373-0990, or email me if you have any questions or need assistance.
Working for you,
Sylvia Santana
State Senator
District 3
FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS PROGRAMS END SEPT. 4
Michigan workers who have been receiving federal jobless benefits through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will see those benefits expire Sept. 4, 2021. Benefit recipients are reminded that the State of Michigan has several programs and services to assist in their search for a job or other help.
Benefits approved by Congress through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC) and Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) are also set to expire on Sept. 4.
ARPA expanded on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act unemployment insurance programs that were implemented in April 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 15, 2020, more than 2.4 million Michiganders have received more than $38 billion in unemployment benefits, which has helped contribute to the state’s economic recovery.
The Sept. 4 expiration date also applies for people who show a benefit balance on their claims. People who are waiting for an eligibility determination for any of the federal programs and receive it after Sept. 4, will be paid all funds for which they are eligible. These individuals should continue to certify through Sept. 4.
Benefit recipients should continue to monitor their MiWAM account and check for emails from UIA in case there is further correspondence about their case. Key information will be shared about deadlines to protest or make an appeal.
Claimants will receive a new debit card from U.S. Bank by Aug. 25, which replaces the Bank of America card they’ve been using. After Aug. 25, any new money received will be posted to the U.S. Bank debit card. Claimants have until Nov. 1 to access the money that has been posted to their Bank of America card. Claimants should not discard their new U.S. Bank card when it arrives and should hold on to the old Bank of America card for at least a year in case they need to reference it later.
If claimants see signs of fraud while checking their MiWAM account, they should file a fraud or identity theft referral through their MiWAM account or contact the fraud hotline at 866-500-0017.
All protests and adjudications that have not been resolved by Sept. 4 will continue through the process despite the federal programs ending. Benefits will be paid to claimants who are determined to be eligible.
Those who receive federal pandemic unemployment assistance are urged to take part in job search, training and assistance programs that are available through various state agencies, including:
- Pure Michigan Talent Connect at MITalent.org — a free job search resource that lists more than 90,000 jobs currently available in Michigan.
- The Michigan Return to Work Playbook — an online portal that features job readiness and industry/job specific resources as well as resources to support specific individuals (such as veterans or individuals with disabilities).
- Career exploration, resume assistance, interview skills, classroom, and on-the-job-training, virtual, and in-person job fairs and more are provided through local Michigan Works! service centers. Call 800-285-WORKS or visit MichiganWorks.org.
- Apply for health care coverage, food and cash assistance, and more using the Michigan Department of Health and Humans Services’ MI Bridgessystem, which also lists helpful state and local resources.
For more information about the end of federal benefits or state assistance for those who are unemployed, go to Michigan.gov/UIA.
$3.3M GRANT TO EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE
A new $3.3 million federal grant has come to Michigan and will expand access to qualified Navigators who can help uninsured Michiganders sign up for health coverage.
Health Insurance Navigators offer free, local help to families and individuals so that they can gain access to health coverage options through the Marketplace or through government assistance programs such as Medicaid or the MIChild program. They can assist with enrollment applications and help consumers receive financial assistance, including the recent increased subsidies provided under the American Rescue Plan. With this additional grant funding, more Navigator organizations will be able to provide health care access and assistance to more Michiganders, including those with limited English proficiency, residents of underserved rural areas, and communities of color.
As part of the nationwide 2021 CMS Navigator cooperative agreement, more than $80 million will be granted to 60 Navigator organizations across the country. The awardees include community and consumer-focused nonprofits, faith-based organizations, hospitals, trade and professional associations, and tribes or tribal organizations.
In Michigan, the following parent organizations are set to receive grants:
- Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services (ACCESS)
- Eastern Michigan University
- Genesee Health Plan Corporation
In total, $3,295,435 has been awarded in Michigan. A variety of subrecipients, representing many different Michigan groups and community relationships, are represented by the parent organizations listed above.
Additional information about the groups that have been awarded is available.
Open enrollment will begin on November 1 and Michiganders can obtain coverage by visiting the Health Insurance Marketplace or by calling 800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325). Consumers will be able to choose from 175 health plans from 11 different insurers. As always, consumers are encouraged to carefully shop around to find the best plan for themselves, their families, and their budget.
Additional information, including links to find free local help from Navigators, is available on the DIFS website or by calling DIFS 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 877-999-6442.
AG NESSEL JOINS COALITION TO UPHOLD VIRGINIA’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW
This week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general in filing a brief in support of the constitutionality of Virginia’s anti-discrimination law regarding yet another case in which an LGBTQ+ couple was refused services.
The filed brief supports Virginia’s defense of the law following the District Court’s dismissal of the lawsuit. A copy of the brief is available here.
According to Attorney General Nessel, turning away customers based on their sexual orientation is clear discrimination, and no one should ever be barred from accessing goods and services simply for whom they love. Allowing such discrimination would set a dangerous precedent.
According to the brief, most Americans — roughly 189 million — now live in communities which expressly prohibit places of public accommodation from discriminating based on sexual orientation. Virginia’s public accommodations law, which has been in effect since July 2020, forbids sexual-orientation discrimination by businesses engaged in sales to the public, and forbids such businesses from posting a notice indicating their intention to refuse service because of sexual orientation.
Joining Attorney General Nessel in filing the amicus brief are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION MONTH
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson celebrated the start of National Voter Registration Month today, encouraging eligible Michigan citizens to register to vote in September.
The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) established September as National Voter Registration Month in 2002 as a nonpartisan means of encouraging voter participation and increasing awareness about state requirements. September 28 is National Voter Registration Day.
In Michigan, residents can register to vote in person up to 8 p.m. on Election Day at their city or township clerk’s office. Residents can also register online at Michigan.gov/Vote or by mail at least 15 days prior to an election. In the 14 days leading up to an election and on Election Day, voters must register in person to vote in the election.
To be eligible to register to vote you must be:
A Michigan resident (at the time you register) and a resident of your city or township for at least 30 days (when you vote)
- A United States citizen
- At least 18 years of age (when you vote)
- Not currently serving a sentence in jail or prison
Residents must provide proof of eligibility and residency to register if they choose to register in the 14 days prior to an election, including Election Day. Documents submitted as proof of residency must include the voter’s name and current address. Digital copies of documents are accepted. Such documents can include:
- Michigan driver’s license or state ID
- Current utility bill
- Bank statement
- Paycheck or government check
- Other government document
Local election officials as well as the Michigan Department of State are the most trusted sources of election information. Residents can find registration information, including the location of their clerk’s office and steps to complete registration, at the Michigan Voter Information Center at Michigan.gov/Vote. To report incorrect election information, please contact misinformation@michgan.gov.
AG NESSEL SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON POWER OUTAGES
Following her calls for utility companies in the state to prioritize customers who dealt with extended power outages, Attorney General Dana Nessel has launched an online feedback initiative to collect resident and business outage experiences as she continues to advocate for Michigan consumers.
AG Nessel’s August Power Outages Feedback form is now live online. Residents and business owners who experienced an extended power outage are encouraged to fill out the form, which collects information including the resident’s utility company, how long the outage lasted, and the financial loss suffered. The form will take less than five minutes to complete and help the department better understand the impact the extended outages had on consumers.