Photo: Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist
During an April 21 live chat session held by the Flint and & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist said during the earlier stages of the coronavirus pandemic there were systems in Detroit that were at or near capacity, but because Michigan residents are minding the stay at home order issued by Governor Gretchen Whitmer this trend has decreased considerably. He said, therefore, the stay at home order was important to help Michiganders ensure their healthcare workers aren’t overrun.
According to Gilchrist, workers confidence in their safety going outside the home will be considered as officials work towards establishing a “new normal” when more Michigan citizens begin returning to work.
Michigan was one of the first and remains one of the few states that reports COVID-19 test results and deaths on racial and ethnic lines. The Poverty Task Force was established in December, recognizing the fact there are many social determinants of health, including fighting persistence poverty, which has led to poor health outcomes in communities across the state. The Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies initiative was announced specifically address the health disparities when it comes to maternal mortality rates when comparing Black women to White women because Black women are three times more likely to die of pregnancy related causes than White women. The Greater Flint Coronavirus Taskforce on Racial Disparities builds on the same framework and momentum, doing so with urgency because the coronavirus kills quickly.
“We are looking to take interventions that are going to address the increased risk of exposure for communities of color and Black folks in particular who tend to work in those jobs that are on the frontlines and still working,” Gilchrist said.
Gilchrist referenced the fact many African Americans cannot afford to buy enough groceries to allow them to not have to go back to the store for a month, and many must use public transportation. These factors can also increase the risk of exposure.
“We also have been releasing through our Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, guidance on healthcare providers, guidance through healthcare providers about implicit bias and bias in medical testing and treatment (which has been shown to lead to poor health outcomes), as well as looking at more strict guidance about sharing demographic data on results so we have an even more complete picture of who is affected and how we are treating them,” Gilchrist said.
Increasing test accessibility and availability in Flint and Genesee County is another priority of the state, according to Gilchrist. Not only drive-up testing, but walk-up testing is expected to be available to particularly vulnerable communities.
Three factors must be considered when thinking about reengaging the economy, according to Gilchrist: ensuring the state has adequate testing, tracing (working with those who have been found COVID-19 positive to determine who they have come in contact with so they can be tested) and ensuing those who have tested positive can isolate themselves safely.
In Dearborn a model was recently launched for first responders to be able to drive up to COVID-19 testing, test and isolate in place to not expose their family members, if necessary.
Senator Jim Ananich said Michigan residents should not expect to be able to go to a concert at Joe Louis Arena any time soon and said the future will be unlike anything any of us have seen in the past.
“If I was a business owner, I would be talking to my trade association, whether it’s the chamber or national organizations about what the best practices are nationwide and internationally for cleaning and sterilization processes (and) for how to protect your workers when the customers are coming in, and (I’d) listen for guidance coming from the state,” Ananich said.
According to Ananich, everyone is going to have a responsibility to follow the guidelines of the state and the Center for Disease Control to make sure they are doing all they can to keep themselves, their families and others they come into contact with healthy.
Jeff Donofrio director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, said over a million people; about a quarter of the state’s workforce, have filed for unemployment since March 15.
“We exceeded the highest record claim during the Great Recession in a week, which was 77,000 every single week during the pandemic,” Donofrio said.
During the Great Recession the highest total number of active claims the Unemployment Insurance Agency had was 388,000. This number was surpassed in one week.
“It’s something that I think no unemployment agency across the county has been designed to really handle,” Donofrio said.
Over 780,000 unemployed workers who applied for unemployment benefits and were affected by COVID-19 are receiving benefits. $825 million in payments has been paid out. Donofrio said he expected in the next few days there would be over a million people receiving benefits and over billion dollars to have gone out through the administration.
Michigan is one of the first states in the county to start paying out an extra $600 weekly to those eligible for unemployment benefits. This began April 8. Michigan is also one of the only states in the county to begin accepting applications for independent contractors, self employed and 1099 workers. In Ohio, Indiana and Illinois these residents cannot apply until May.
Donofrio explained possible delays to individuals getting approved for unemployment benefits, saying the federal government requires that non-monetary holds have an individual look at the account, talk to the individual and gather more information. This could be because a person was involuntarily separated and the employer is disputing their ability to get unemployment insurance. It could be because there is a flag of identity theft as there is a problem with individuals applying fraudulently around the county when they have the appropriate information. Sometimes, when individuals have changed jobs data lags. By federal law, the Unemployment Insurance Agency must verify who their new employer is. Those who were overpaid on an old Unemployment Insurance Agency claim may also have a non-monetary issue. They may still qualify for unemployment benefits, but an extra step may be required.
The Unemployment Insurance Agency has more than quadrupled the staff, and another approximate 500 employees will be hired to help resolve these issues.
Low wage workers who hadn’t qualified in the past may be eligible now.
Those who have experienced a decrease in income may receive underemployment benefits if their income falls below $500. These benefits can also be extended to salespeople who receive a commission or individuals working multiple jobs with a total income of under $500.
“Underemployment benefits would give you a percent of the Michigan benefit, which is $362. Up until the end of July, you would get the additional $600 of pandemic unemployment assistance being offered by the federal government.”
Payments for independent contractors, self employed and gig workers begin paying out the week of April 20.
Individuals on paid sick leave or other paid leave are not eligible.
“Individuals who have the ability to work from home with the same pay they were getting or who were offered jobs in an essential or critical infrastructure to work-they are still employed or considered to be ineligible for unemployment insurance. Individuals who potentially quit only to get unemployment benefits would be ineligible, as well.”
Unemployment benefits have been extended from 20 weeks to 39 weeks.
Those who have not applied for unemployment benefits who think they may be eligible may apply for benefits at Michigan.gov/uia. They are encouraged to apply after 8 p.m., if possible. Those whose last name begins with a-l are asked to file or certify they are still eligible Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Those with the last names m-z are asked to file or certify Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday. Anyone can file or certify on Saturdays. Those applying will need a Social Security card, driver’s license or state ID and name/address/information about employers they have worked for in the last 18 months. If applicants are not U.S. citizens, they will need alien registration card and work authorization expiration date. Individuals who are receiving benefits must certify they are still eligible every two weeks, and benefits will be backdated, which can result in a lump sum being given.
There are also several resources available at this time for employers.
A website was launched for small businesses, in particular, to help business owners determine whether they qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a Small Business Administration loan that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Gilchrist helped launch the website recently. The website address is mipaycheckprotection.com.
Donofrio said those who have filed for unemployment should make sure they answer calls from 866 numbers.
“We’re facing things we never imagined,” Gilchrist said. “We’re being asked to do things we never thought we would need to do. We’re also helping in ways we never knew we would need to help or knew we were even capable of doing. Know that the professionals in state government are working as hard as we can to provide the services we know everyone needs.”
