Okay, so this one is personal. October 2014 I found myself unemployed and subjected to the automated machinery of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). Not that it matters, but it wasn’t my fault. The fruitful and profitable automotive electronics company I was working for was sold off to another company. (I don’t want to name any names but it starts with a “V” and rhymes with “Pissteon.”) And despite the boom times, they managed in a year’s time to strangle their newly acquired division and scatter 90% of its employees, including me. (I have come to accept this as my destiny for having grown up in Flint — one day I would be spit out by the automotive industry. It was just a matter of time.)
Fortunately, I had severance pay and found new employment fairly quickly. But not without being punished by the UIA automated system. There were a few false accusations, but the main one had to do with the severance. You must report all income to the UIA system, so a couple weeks after being laid off the check arrived and I reported it. Soon afterward I started getting the “Why You Lie?” letters from the UIA. They basically went like this:
“Why you lie? You no get monies. You pay us many many many monies. You awful person. …and if we can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us!”
Eventually I discovered that “Pissteon” had reported my severance to the UIA as two separate checks issued on two separate weeks. Why? I don’t know. I’m guessing for tax avoiding purposes. But in any case, it took me quite a long time to get it (mostly) fixed. I received my unemployment money after I was again employed. I was still cheated out of a couple of weeks, but I didn’t have to pay any fines. I was lucky to have had the time, the ability, and the stubbornness to get it resolved. (Also I should mention that when I was able to get UIA service agents on the phone, most were patient and helpful.)
I was also very lucky that my family was not dependent on the unemployment money. Not everybody is so fortunate, and this is what has brought on a lawsuit. I understand there are cheats who want to game the system, and there should be barriers that block them. But subjecting those who stray slightly outside the lines to an automated “guilty until proven innocent” system needs to stop. It’s onerous and un-American.
On a lighter note, the punchline in the cartoon was inspired by a bit from one of my all-time favorite (and semi-obscure) Disney animated films, The Emperor’s New Groove:
John Auchter draws cartoons. Lots and lots of them. You can find them at his incredibly popular website auchtoon.com.
Our punitive Michigan legislature has got to go.
I’ve had huge difficulties with UIA from the employer’s side. They are slow to communicate with me, but quick to level fines.
In other words, government.
In other words,
Genuine Obnoxious Party.
Yep, Frank, I had the, um, pleasure of dealing with it from the employer side, too. I had an SCorp, which I closed up a few years ago. All other government agencies understand that it no longer exists. The UIA, however, still shoots me (or rather, the corporation) a threatening letter every once in a while. Fun!
Similar Situation: An automotive division of a company whose name rhymes with Stompubare let my wife go. The state made a simple arithmetic mistake, and sent letters claiming she owed money back. We explained in half a dozen letters, over the course of several months. We do not think anybody at the State of Michigan ever even read our letters. Finally, she got a chance for an in-person hearing, but the state scheduled it for the day she was to start a new job. We told an actual person who worked at a state branch office, and got it rescheduled, and another actual person listened, understood immediately, and absolved her.
If you ever get into this state system, do not give up. Keep sending letters. Do not let the state roll over you.
I recall after finishing my enlistment in the army I was punished with a twelve week wait because I ‘quit’ my job. Way to support the troops.
My grandson too. Additionally some discrepancies between his claim and military info resulted in threatening letters regards his “fraud” Got an attorney to accompany him to “hearing” had all his proof, service records, discharge etc .
It turned into a ( my age here) Gilda Radnor/ Emily Litella/ Sat Night Live moment.
Referee looked it over said”never mind” we were out in 10 minutes.
I got a seven week penalty when I (voluntarily separated from the Army) in 1985.
I am currently going thru UIA hell. One thing I have learned is they do not want to pay us. My unemployment has been stopped 5 times and has just ended. Well I thought it did, now they are talking about me having to pay some back. What a nightmare.
My partner is a Medical Assistant. He got laid off (Ohio). He drew for a while and then they cut him off. Why? Even though his education and pay rate were medical field based, after X weeks, you lose your unemployment if you don’t accept ANY job. Even if it is part time McDonald’s minimum wage with no benefits. (But still enough that you lose your unemployment)
A little off topic but I went through something similar with social security when my husband died. While each person was very nice – each one gave me different information. The hold on the phone was a minimum of 45 minutes. A recording tells you they will call you back if you prefer, but they don’t. Finally, they told me how much I would receive. I knew they calculated it wrong, but I was tired of fighting. They corrected it (sent additional check) 3 months later. I am a senior citizen. My home is paid for. My car is paid for. Children out of the house. Savings and life insurance. What does a young person do when this happens to them and they have these financial obligations? I worry about them.
UIA sent me a check for two weeks once when I only filed for one, (I cashed it) but I called them and asked where do I send the half I wasn’t owed? They accused me of fraud! I ended up seeing an arbitrator who decided in my favor. I’m not sure how that would work today with automatic deposits, best bet is if you ever get overpaid don’t tell anyone and pretend you didn’t notice.