Michigan's troubled Unemployment Compensation system is opening three more walk-in centers to help jobless workers who have questions about, or problems with their unemployment claims.

The three new help centers are located in Michigan Bureau of Workers and Unemployment Compensation (BWUC) offices in: Grand Rapids, 3391 Plainfield Ave. NE; Lansing, 5015 S. Cedar St., and Saginaw, 614 Johnson St.

The walk-in offices are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are in addition to three offices that opened in the Detroit area in January. They are at the following locations: northwest Detroit: 4321 Oakman; Dearborn, 2901 Gulley Rd., and Madison Heights, 401 E. 13 Mile. Since those offices opened, they have helped more than 24,000 unemployed workers.

The frustration level has been growing in recent months among Michigan 's unemployed workers, who have experienced repeated busy signals on BWUC help lines and inexperienced help at offices. Many of the problems were caused by a lack of staffing brought on by an early retirement program offered in the waning days of the Engler Administration. Last month, the department was down to 700 employees, many of them inexperienced, to handle a higher claims load. Four years ago, the department had 1,300 employees.

Now, recent BWUC retirees have been hired as temps to help straighten things out.

"The staffing at these locations is providing basic unemployment insurance services," said David Plawecki, acting director of the BWUC. "They will check the status of claims and will resolve any problems or issues surrounding a workers' claim."

In addition, the offices can take certifications for weeks of unemployment, inquire about pending decisions and accept protests and appeals of unemployment claims decisions. "We will make every effort to resolve problems and issues on the spot," Plawecki said. "The objective is go do whatever it takes to get a workers' claim on track before the individual leaves office."

Plawecki said those with complex problems might have to wait before they are seen by one of the office staff members.

In case you missed out on our last issue, following are some (hopefully) helpful hints concerning the state's unemployment compensation system.

• The toll-free help line set up by the state's Unemployment Agency has been swamped by up to 100,000 calls a day, Plawecki said, and only a fraction of the calls get through. The line is staffed evenings, and there's a little better chance that you can get through between 7-9 p.m. The number: (800) 638-3995.
• As of Jan. 28, workers can go online to file claims for unemployment benefits. Go to: www.michigan.gov/bwuc. The web site is accepting new and additional unemployment claims, but there are some conditions that must be met, including the jobless worker must have worked for only one employer for the last 18 months.
• Michigan estimates that some 75,000 workers will exhaust their state jobless benefits during the first half of this year. All potential recipients of federal unemployment benefits will have been notified by mail by Jan. 28. Applicants who still believe they are eligible can pick up an application at their local Bureau of Workers and Unemployment Compensation or from the state website, www.michigan.gov/bwuc.
• If you live north of Cadillac, and you're filing for additional state jobless money, call this number for help: (866) 500-0017.