Whether it be a family member, friend, or neighbor, we all likely know someone who has lost a job through no fault of his or her own and needed to rely on unemployment insurance benefits while they looked for new work.

It’s a vulnerable position to be in, especially when the person out of work is the primary earner in a family, which is why unemployment insurance benefits are so critically important.

Unemployment insurance benefits provide a lifeline in uncertain financial times, but state programs must be continuously evaluated and updated to ensure people’s basic needs are being met.

Here in Michigan, our state’s unemployment insurance program has unfortunately fallen behind on the policy front, but the state House recently made a strong move toward improving and modernizing the program through the passage of House Bill 5827.

That legislation would extend unemployment insurance benefits to a maximum of 26 weeks, up from the current 20 weeks, which would bring Michigan in line with the majority of other states. Currently, Michigan is one of only 12 states that do not offer up to 26 weeks (or more) in unemployment insurance benefits.

To be clear, extending the duration of benefits does not mean that all Michiganders who find themselves out of work are going to need that much time to find a new job. In fact, Michiganders used an average of only 12 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits out of the maximum 20 weeks before the coronavirus pandemic and an average of only 14 weeks when the duration of benefits was temporarily increased to 26 weeks during the pandemic.

That tells us that people don’t stay on unemployment by choice and they want to get back into the workforce as soon as possible.

However, there are people who need the maximum time provided to do a thorough job search, especially those who are living in communities where good work opportunities may be harder to come by.

For example, job seekers in rural areas such as Alpena and its surrounding counties may need more time to find a good job than people living in large cities, where there are significantly more jobs to choose from.

When benefits run out at just 20 weeks, workers with limited choices are often backed into a corner and must take whatever job is available, even if it’s a job that does not pay well and offers few benefits. That can have a detrimental impact on household budgets, leaving families far worse off than they were before and potentially leading to higher rates of poverty and more households that are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE).

Here at the Michigan League for Public Policy, we applaud the state House for recognizing the importance of that much-needed improvement to Michigan’s unemployment insurance program, and we hope to see the state Senate and governor follow suit by giving that common-sense legislation the green light.

Making that legislation a reality would be a win for all working Michiganders, especially those living in regions where we see the highest rates of joblessness, which includes the Upper Peninsula and Northeast Michigan.

The improvements to our state’s unemployment insurance program shouldn’t stop at the duration of benefits, though.

The Michigan Legislature should also raise the weekly benefit amount, which has sat stagnant at $362 since 2002. Given the significant increases in the cost of living over the past 22 years, a weekly payment of $362 is simply not enough for a family to get by during periods of unemployment. Improving the maximum weekly benefit amount would be a win-win, as it would help families afford basic life necessities while also keeping consumer dollars flowing into local communities and businesses.

Michiganders work hard but are vulnerable to layoffs, regardless of how hard they work.

They deserve support and stability when they find themselves in between jobs.

Let’s make the smart policy choices that will strengthen Michigan’s unemployment insurance program for working Michiganders and bring our state up to speed with the majority of other states in the Midwest and beyond.

Monique Stanton is president and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy.