Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program provides partial wage replacement to eligible workers who need time off for serious health conditions, bonding with a new child, caring for a family member, certain military-related events, or personal safety leave.
Here’s your guide for understanding and applying for benefits through the State provided program1
Step 1: Confirm that you are Eligible
Minnesota Paid Leave is available to most employees who work in Minnesota, including part-time and seasonal workers. You may qualify if:
– You have earned sufficient wages in Minnesota during the base period (typically the past 4 completed calendar quarters).
– You are taking leave for a qualifying reason.
– You are unable to work (including remote work) because of that qualifying reason.
Qualifying reasons include:
– Your own serious health condition
– Bonding with a new child (birth, adoption, or foster placement)
– Caring for a family member with a serious health condition
– Military exigency leave
– Personal safety leave (for domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking)
Step 2: Notify your Employer
Before applying through the state, employees should:
– Notify their employer as soon as possible (the law requires 30 days advance notice if the leave is foreseeable).
– Follow any internal leave request procedures.
(Note: Employer notice requirements are separate from the state application process. An employer may require an employee to comply with the employer’s usual and customary notice and procedural requirements for requesting leave.)
Step 3: Gather Required Information
Before starting your application, you’ll want to have the required certification document completed. For most types of leave, this will be a certification form. These forms verify your reason for taking leave and each type of leave has its own form. You only need to complete the form that matches the type of leave you are requesting. Your healthcare or service provider will also need to fill out part of the form and sign it.
These certification forms can be found through the Minnesota Paid Leave Toolkit.
Additional information you will need to have ready includes:
– Your social security number
– Contact information
– Employer information
– Dates of leave
Step 4: Submit an Application through the State Portal
Applications must be submitted directly to the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) through the State’s Paid Leave Online Portal.
Applicants will:
- Create or log into their state account
- Complete the online application
- Upload required documentation
- Certify that the information provided is accurate
After submission, DEED may contact your employer to verify employment and wage information.
Step 5: Respond to Requests for Additional Information
If the state needs clarification or additional documentation, they will notify you through your online account or by mail. Prompt responses help prevent delays. You can also monitor the status of your application through the online portal.
Step 6: Receive Determination of Eligibility
If approved:
– You will receive a determination notice explaining your weekly benefit amount
– Benefits are paid directly by the state
– Payments are typically issued weekly while you are on approved leave.
If denied, you have the right to appeal within the timeframe provided in your determination notice.
When to Seek Legal Advice
If you have questions regarding your application for leave or the requirements of the law, we encourage you to reach out to our team of employment law attorneys. Specifically, you may wish to seek the advice of an attorney if you experience any of the following:
– Employer interference with your right to apply for paid leave benefits;
– Retaliation for requesting leave;
– A denied claim that appears incorrect; or
– Questions about how Paid Leave interacts with FMLA or other protections.
1 Employers have the option of providing benefits through the State program or through a private equivalent plan. This guide only covers applying through the State program and employees should check with their employer prior to applying for benefits through the State Portal.
Disclaimer: The above guide is not legal advice, but rather a basic step-by-step guide for applying for Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits through the State. The State and/or your employer may have additional notice and/or verification requirements to process your application for leave. Employees should reference employer policies regarding notice of leave and maintain good communication with their employer and DEED regarding the status of their need for leave. For legal advice regarding your specific situation, please speak with an attorney.