Paid Family Leave In Minnesota Is Off To A Strong Start

Almost 12,000 Minnesotans have applied for the new paid family leave plan in its first few days.

Here’s a rundown of the most common questions about the new Minnesota Paid Leave Program.

Now that the program is up and running, do I meet the qualifications?

If you’re employed in Minnesota and make more than $3,900 per year from any combination of full-time, part-time, seasonal, and temporary work, you qualify for the program, but will need to apply through the state’s website. The program payments are through the state, not your employer.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development expects to process about 130,000 claims for payment in the first year of the program.

Answer a few questions here to see if you qualify.

Get our free mobile app

Where does the money come from?

A payroll tax split between employers and employees pays for the program.

What benefits can I receive if I’m approved?

According to the DEED Website:

In a single benefit year, you can take:

• up to 12 weeks for family leave and up to 12 weeks for medical leave. If you need both types of leave in the same benefit year, you can take up to 20 weeks. Your benefit year starts the first day you take leave.
• Leave can be taken continuously, in one block of time, or intermittently, in smaller blocks of time. Intermittent leave can be taken when you need it, such as for chronic migraines, or on a set schedule, like taking someone to a monthly appointment.

Qualifying events for Paid Leave include:

Medical Leave

• To care for your own serious health condition.
• This can include pregnancy or childbirth, surgery, a chronic condition, injury, or other health needs your provider certifies.

Family Leave

• To bond with a child through birth, adoption, or foster placement
• To care for a family member with a serious health condition
• To support a military family member called to active duty
• To respond to certain personal safety issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, for you or a family member.

What does the program pay?

Approved applicants can qualify for up to 12 weeks of a portion of their paycheck to help cover the costs of a new baby, adoption, foster, or to care for an aging family member. The payment is a percentage of your normal paycheck, but it tops out at about $1,400 per week.

Minnesota joins 13 other states that offer some sort of paid family leave program, but the state’s program is one of the most robust.

The program has been very politically divisive. Some small businesses are in favor of the program because it allows them an employee benefit they couldn’t offer, while others claim the additional payroll taxes and staffing issues will cripple their business.

Rollout of these big government programs is usually messy, but DEED officials say there haven’t been any major hiccups so far.

While I’m past the family-raising period of my life, it’s nice to know I have that option if my parents were to get sick and I’d need time to care for them. If you think you might need to take advantage of the program, find application information here.