MARQUETTE — Julia Dale, the director of Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency, is visiting agency offices throughout Michigan in order to consolidate and better understand what needs to be done to correct the UIA’s performance during the pandemic.

Even though a number of people did not get any money after filing a claim for unemployment, the larger problem was still improper payment.

A nationwide audit of all 50 state unemployment agencies found that Michigan’s UIA overpaid not $4 billion as originally announced, but between $8.3 billion and $8.5 billion in improper, misrepresented or fraudulent claims.

With over 20 years in public service, Dale is uniquely qualified to rebuild the public trust lost by the organization during the pandemic, she said.

“From having worked in the Department of Civil Rights to now partnering with the attorney general, I understand how I can best partner with others,” Dale said.

For her, the process of rebuilding that trust started with updated safety and ethics, creating a sustainable foundation for the UIA so that it can both be held to a higher standard and better protect the communities that it serves. Dale’s critical goals at the moment are to rebuild the broken trust with taxpayers and be as efficient as possible.

“We have to (be able to) get dollars out the door to eligible people as soon as possible and to communicate better with claimants,” Dale said.

The first steps have already been taken as an updated website has been launched. While many are still hurting due to the pandemic, Dale is making changes, revamping Michigan’s UIA department and collaborating at both the local and federal levels to allow everyone to get the help they need.

Brennan White can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. His email address is bwhite@miningjournal.net.