LANSING, Mich. (Feb. 9, 2021) — Sen. Paul Wojno (D-Warren) has introduced Senate Bill 2 as his first bill of the new legislative session. The bill would increase the maximum number of weeks a person could receive unemployment benefits from 20 to 26 weeks.
“It should come as no shock that hardworking Michiganders are struggling, as this pandemic has touched every aspect of our lives,” Sen. Wojno said. “We have an opportunity — and responsibility — to provide relief for so many out there who are experiencing hardship. This legislation would provide hope, support, and comfort to those who are suffering during these trying times.”
The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget’s most recent jobless rate statistics from December 2020 showed an adjusted unemployment rate of 7.5%. The Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metropolitan area saw a 10.2% jobless rate, up 6.2 percentage points from the same time in 2019.
“People need to know that the legislature is here to work on issues that matter to them,” Sen. Wojno added. “Michiganders are counting on us, and it’s up to us to deliver.”
Due to interruptions with the CARES Act disbursement at the end of 2020, claimants can now reopen and certify unemployment claims for an additional 11-week period from Jan. 2 to March 13, 2021 under the Continued Assistance Act (CAA). More information on these programs can be found here.
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