Michigan Employers: Get Ready for the New Unemployment System

Michigan is replacing its current unemployment insurance platform, MiWAM, with a new system called MiUI. This change will take effect on Monday, February 23, 2026, when employers and third-party administrators (TPAs) will begin conducting unemployment tax functions in the new system.

To help your business avoid disruption, here’s what you need to know and do before launch day.

Key Transition Timeline

• System Blackout: Mid-afternoon Feb. 18 through Feb. 22 existing MiWAM features will be temporarily offline as data is migrated.
• Go-Live (Feb. 23): Employers will use MiUI for tax functions such as filing quarterly wage reports, uploading wage files, and registering accounts.

Steps Employers Should Take Now

1. Create or confirm your MiLogin for Business account. This will be the gateway to MiUI access. If you already have one, be sure it’s up-to-date.
2. Verify you can log into your MiWAM account. You’ll need your MiUI activation code from your existing MiWAM profile to kick off your new MiUI account setup.
3. Review and update your account info in MiWAM. Double-check contact data, payment settings, and user permissions. The cleaner your MiWAM details, the better they’ll transfer into MiUI.
4. Check TPA relationships and roles. If you use a third-party administrator, confirm which roles and permissions they should have in the new system.
5. Prepare wage reporting files. Familiarize yourself with the new MiUI wage reporting file formats and, if possible, test them using the Wage Report File Validation tool.

Training & Support Resources

Here are official resources to help you and your HR/tax teams prepare:

• MiUI University – Central hub for FAQs, how-to guides, videos, and training materials from the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA).
• Employer Help Center – A support portal with guidance for common unemployment tax and claims questions.
• Employer Advisory Newsletters – Subscribe to the Michigan Employer Advisor newsletter to receive regular updates about MiUI and transition checklists.