Michigan: Part-time workers were eligible for pandemic unemployment benefits, even when told they were not...

This is according to an article in the Detroit Free Press, "Whitmer signs bill clarifying eligibility for pandemic unemployment benefits" by Adrienne Roberts, 2/28/22:

Governor Whitmer has signed a bill into law that clarifies that part-time workers were eligible for federal pandemic unemployment benefits.

The new law affects PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) claims filed after March 1, 2020, for those who had issues due to only being available for part-time work. The PUA program ended in September 2021. People with disabilities and part-time caregivers were among those who were denied benefits that they should have received.

The new law makes it clear that part-time workers were eligible for  federal unemployment benefits. Many were denied these benefits because of the way the forms were worded, making it appear that only those who could claim to be “able and available” for full-time work could claim benefits. 

State Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, is quoted in the article:

"To me, this was just a perfect example of putting the box-checking and bureaucratic needs above the needs of the citizens and the true intent of the law," state Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, who sponsored the bill, said about the discrepancy.

"…Between this new law and recent guidance from the federal government for applying blanket waivers for overpayments when the claimant is not at fault, Irwin said many of the pieces should be in place to "sweep away these fights with the agency that are unnecessary, unproductive and that we shouldn't be having."