Bill > HB5003

This bill amends the Michigan Employment Security Act to modify the rules for unemployment insurance benefit overpayment recovery and waiver eligibility. The key changes include expanding the income and asset thresholds for waiving restitution from 150% to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, clarifying the methods for recovering improperly paid benefits (including deductions from benefits, wages, or tax refunds), and establishing more precise time limits for initiating recovery actions. The bill allows the Unemployment Insurance Agency to waive recovery of improperly paid benefits if repayment would be "contrary to equity and good conscience," which now includes scenarios such as: when a claimant provided incorrect wage information without intent to misrepresent, when the claimant's household income and cash assets are below the updated threshold, or when overpayments resulted from administrative errors. The bill also maintains provisions that impose stricter penalties for intentional false statements or misrepresentations, including canceling benefit rights for the current benefit year and potentially preventing the use of certain wages to establish future benefit years. Additionally, the bill requires the agency to provide an annual report detailing waiver application statistics and outcomes to legislative committees.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-5003