Cooper People Publications

Michigan’s UIA Is Moving to MiUI: What Employers Need to Know Before the 2026 Launch

Publication date: December 16, 2025
🕒 8 minute read 

Big news for Michigan employers: the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is sunsetting its decade-old MiWAM system and replacing it with MiUI, a mobile-friendly, modernized platform built on human-centered design principles. 

This is one of the largest tech shifts UIA has made in years, and it’s intended to simplify workflows, improve access, and give employers and Third-Party Administrators (TPAs) more control and transparency. 

MiUI goes live early 2026, and UIA is actively prepping users through seminars, newsletters, MiUI University resources, and even a dedicated YouTube channel. MiUI’s tax functions for employers and TPAs are set to roll out first in early 2026 (this initial system rollout was pushed from 12/15/2025 to now launch the early part of the new year).  

Below is your breakdown of what’s changing, what to expect, and most importantly, what you need to do now, so your organization is ready. 

MiUI: A More Accessible, Human-Centered System 

MiUI is designed to solve the pain points employers and workers have struggled with for years. Some of the solutions include: 

  • A mobile-friendly interface 
  • Easier navigation 
  • Streamlined employer and TPA connections 
  • More intuitive wage reporting 
  • Cleaner account management 
  • Better visibility into unemployment activity 

UIA has also built a robust support system that includes: 

MiUI Access for Employers and Third-Party Administrators (TPAs)  

Employers and TPAs will use MiLogin for Business. MiLogin for Business is the State of Michigan’s secure portal that lets users access multiple state services using a single user ID and password. If you don’t already have an account, you’ll need to create one! Please note, you won’t be able to access MiUI until the system goes live in early 2026. 

When the new system goes live, you’ll need to add MiUI to your portal. To add MiUI in MiLogin for Business, you’ll follow this process: 

  1. Log in to your MiLogin for Business account. 
  2. Go to Add Services. 
  3. Search for “MiUI” in the services list. 
  4. Review and acknowledge the terms/notices that appear. 
  5. You’ll receive an email confirmation that MiUI has been added. 
  6. Log out, then log back in to MiLogin for Business. 
  7. The MiUI portal will now appear as one of your available services. 

For more information on creating a MiLogin for Business account and accessing MiUI, review the step-by-step guide posted on MiUI University. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

What if my company never set up a MiWAM account? 

UIA encourages all employers to create a MiWAM account before going live in early 2026. Some benefits functions will remain in MiWAM until summer 2026. This means employers and TPAs will use both MiWAM and MiUIA until then.  

What data transfers from MiWAM to MiUI?

If you have a MiWAM account, your last 10 years of data will automatically be transferred.

How do I know if I already have a MiLogin for Business account? 

MiLogin for Business (the State of Michigan’s single sign-on system) is used for the following systems: CHAMPS, MCIR, MDOS eServices (CARS), MiBridges, MiSACWIS, and Michigan Treasury Online (MTO); all of these systems use the same user ID and password. This will allow you to use one MiLogin account to access multiple state business services.   

Who should oversee our MiUI account set up? 

Whoever accesses your MiUI account first will automatically become the System Administrator. You’ll want this individual to be someone who can add users, assign access, and manage roles on your organization’s behalf.  

How do I activate my MiUI account? 

You’ll need: 

  • Your EAN (Employer Account Number) 
  • An 8-digit Activation Code, which will appear in MiWAM. This was scheduled to be available on December 15, 2025, but has likely been delayed as UIA announced their timeline has shifted to launch in 2026 instead. 

Will different users have different views? 

Yes, MiUI has tailored experiences for: 

  • Employers 
  • Administrators 
  • Employees 
  • TPAs 

You can fully customize access levels, permissions, and user roles. 

What changes for Third-Party Administrators (TPAs)? 

This is one of the biggest workflow upgrades: 

  • Employers will now add and manage their TPAs. 
  • UIA will automatically transfer one TPA to MiUI. If you have multiple, you’ll have to select which one to transfer over. 
  • You can have up to two TPAs with full access; additional TPAs will have view-only access. 
  • There is no requirement to use a TPA. 
  • To add a TPA, you’ll need their TPA ID, which you must get directly from the TPA. 
  • You can set access start dates and leave end dates open if desired. 

If I use a payroll company, what action is required?  

Businesses are responsible for ensuring their quarterly wage reports are filed correctly and on time. TPAs like payroll companies or other agents can be assigned permission by an employer to file reports and make payments on their behalf.  

Employers must login to MiUI and ensure that they have given their TPAs the correct permissions to make payments on their behalf.  

Your MiUI Go Live Checklist  

Here are the core actions businesses should take now: 

✅ 1. Create your MiLogin for Business account (if you don’t have one) or confirm that you are able to log into your existing account. 

If you already have an MiLogin for Michigan Treasury Online (MTO), you can use that user ID and password to log into the MiLogin portal instead of creating a new account. There’s no access to MiUI until Go Live in early 2026, but you’ll want to ensure you can access your account. 

✅ 2. Make sure you can log in to your MiWAM account. 

You’ll need it to retrieve the 8-digit Activation Code and Employer Account Number (EAN). 

✅ 3. Identify your future MiUI System Administrator(s). 

They’ll manage all user permissions, TPAs, and access levels. 

✅ 4. Review all employer/TPA relationships in MiWAM. 

Decide who your primary TPA will be (if you use more than one).  

✅ 5. Review updated wage file formats and test early or ensure TPAs including payroll processors may act on your behalf.  

Use the validation tool before the first required file submission if your organization submits this on its own behalf. If you use a TPA or a payroll provider, ensure that they have received the access they need to submit on your behalf. Some payroll providers have sent out communications on the transitions so be on the lookout for updates from your payroll provider.  

✅ 6. Head over to MiUI University and start learning. 

Watch the YouTube tutorials, read the newsletter, and attend a seminar (these will likely be available in early 2026). Subscribe to receive updates from LEO (Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity). 

The earlier you prep your people, accounts, and data, the smoother this will go. Start with access, admins, TPAs, and wage file testing if you don’t use a TPA or payroll provider. Stay connected with the team at Cooper People Group for compliance alerts. Subscribe to our communications today. 

 

Where to Get MiUI or MiWAM Technical Help