Capitol News

Unemployment payments to thousands of Michiganders were halted in recent weeks over concerns of fraud. 

The latest snafu during the COVID-19 pandemic dealing with unemployment benefits during a time when many people who aren't working because of restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the virus are still struggling to pay bills and put food on the table. 

The overwhelmed system had already struggled to keep up with the record number of claims filed. Now, people who've been receiving benefits that suddenly stopped when their accounts were flagged are having problems getting their identities verified. 

"I uploaded my driver's license, social security, what I need then they got a verification saying I need to do it again a week after that," Brady Hiller told WILX, "Two weeks later I ended up getting the same thing, a stop payment indicator."

The never-ending problems, or so it seems, kept adding to the frustrations of Michiganders who are relying on the unemployment benefits to make ends meet.  Now lawmakers are fed up too, WILX reported. They organized a rally on the Capitol Lawn in an effort to get state's Unemployment Insurance Agency to fix the issues and help families right away. 

"Families have struggled for too long now, wondering how they are going to put food on the table and pay bills," State Rep. Ann Bollin said in a release on the Michigan House Republicans website. "This rally is for all of the families who have had to deal with the devastation over the past few months — to let you know that your challenges do matter, and your concerns are valid."

Bollin and several other women state representatives who are also known as "Moms for Families" organized the event. She said she understands the concerns many families have had to face during these unprecedented times, according to the release.