Almost 75K applicants approved in first 6 months of Minnesota’s paid leave program
The state approved nearly 75,000 claims as employers adjusted schedules and early application demand began to level off, officials said.
- On Tuesday, Evan Rowe, deputy commissioner for workforce services and transformation with the Department of Employment and Economic Development, announced the Paid Family Medical Leave program has approved nearly 75,000 applications out of 126,373 total requests.
- Implementation of the program has come in $70 million under budget, with the state paying out nearly $600 million in benefits as of June 30, supporting a program estimated to cost roughly $1.6 billion annually.
- Data shows 50% of applications are for medical leave, 36% for bonding, and 14% for caring, with Southeast Minnesota leading regional participation at 25% of all applicants.
- While initial application volume has leveled off, state officials noted that most denials stemmed from applications missing necessary identification or medical verification information.
- Minnesota, the 13th state to launch such a benefit, offers residents 12 to 20 weeks of job-protected leave, providing partial paychecks to workers needing time to care for their health or family.
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30 Articles
Grand Rapids Herald-Review
Minnesota ReformerMany Minnesotans claim paid leave benefits, but agency expects demand to taper off
An early spike in applications for the state’s new paid leave program has since tapered off, and applications by the end of the year may match up with pre-launch estimates, according to the state Department of Employment and Economic Development.…
MN paid leave paid $600M in benefits to 75,000 people in first half of 2026
Minnesota has distributed nearly $600 million in paid family and medical leave benefits and approved close to 75,000 applications since launching the program at the beginning of the year, state officials said Tuesday. A half-year update on program use from…
Hanford Sentinel
Lodinews.comMinnesota’s paid family medical leave surpasses projections in first 6 months
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota’s new paid-leave program surprised naysayers by coming in $70 million under budget as of the sixth-month point, even with soaring demand. About 124,000 Minnesotans have applied for paid leave during the first six months of this year.…
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