LANSING, Mich. — If you received unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic and were asked to pay some of it back, you might be eligible for part of a $55 million class action lawsuit settlement.
The settlement stems from the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) wrongly asking some benefit recipients to pay back their benefits before the UIA was able to properly resolve protests or appeals.
Now, the UIA is saying that the lawsuit is actually benefitting the agency, saying it is helping to continue its transformation into a "national model for fast, fair, and fraud-free service."
“I’m proud of the hard work by staff at the UIA to bring this case close to a resolution that benefits claimants and provides them the money they deserve,” said UIA Director Julia Dale. “Our focus has always been on doing what’s right for claimants and this settlement reflects our commitment to a fair conclusion for all parties involved. UIA is committed to correcting past wrongs and redoubling efforts to make sure workers get the benefits they deserve.”
The UIA says that if you believe you qualify for the settlement, you can:
Go to the Claimant Homepage at Michigan.gov/UIA for access to information about the settlement, deadlines, court documents, and more.
Call the Settlement Administrator at 1-866-499-4565 or email info@bwclassactions.com.
Watch for an email from UIA titled “Saunders v. UIA improper collections settlement alert” sent to those who may qualify for restitution.
Log-in to Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) regularly to see if you've received a web message with the title “Saunders v. UIA Improper Collections Alert” letting you know you may qualify to be part of the settlement.
Resolve problems with MiLOGIN or MiWAM passwords by calling UIA Customer Service at 1-866-500-0017 and select 7 for Account Access when prompted.
The deadline to file a claim, object to the settlement or opt-out is Nov. 4, 2024. A final approval hearing of the settlement is scheduled for March 20, 2025.
As part of the settlement, the UIA does not admit liability in the case and anyone who wants to join must agree to release all claims against the UIA.
The UIA says that its outdated computer system was overwhelmed by claims, which led to the agency's errors. The UIA is in the process of designing a new computer system that will be operational in 2025.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Watch 13 ON YOUR SIDE for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and on your phone.
