SE Grand Rapids News

Michigan Rep. Julie Calley (R-Portland) questioned the Unemployment Insurance Agency's (UIA) director on the agency's inefficiencies during a June 24 committee meeting, according to the Michigan House Republicans website.

Calley said during the hearing that she had heard many complaints from constituents about the agency's problems regarding unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"If I was to relay the voices of people I’ve been hearing from who are still without needed benefits, I would be breaking committee decorum with the language I’d be using,” Calley said, according to Michigan House Republicans. "People are furious, frantic and frustrated. Their attempts to contact the UIA mostly go unanswered; they are not getting sufficient communication from the agency. They are not receiving timelines on when resources may be available to them that will help resolve their claim. This is basic customer service, and the agency is failing."

UIA Director Steve Gray spoke at the Joint Select Committee previously in May, when he told the committee that more than 130,000 individuals still had not received unemployment benefit payments. Since May, that number has grown from 134,000 to 137,000, according to Michigan House Republicans.

“We must ensure job providers throughout Michigan who have already been impacted severely by COVID-19 are not on the hook when these overpayments -- whether by accident or through intentional fraudulent activity -- are not able to be re-collected,” Calley told Michigan House Republicans.

Calley also questioned why the agency didn't have options for individuals who didn't have access to a computer but had unsettled claims. She also asked why the agency was taking months to reach an outcome on many claims.

Calley said during the hearing that the issue was a very emotional one.

"Timelines are critical and I saw the first one ever came out yesterday. And, in essence, the department is saying, if you submitted a claim in March or April, our goal is to get you an answer by July 4," Calley said, according to an audio file on Michigan House Republicans website. "To be honest with you, it's egregious, but at least it is a start."