MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Paid Leave Reaches 75,000 Workers and Distributes Nearly $600 Million in First Six Months

SAINT PAUL, MN (July 15, 2026) Approximately 75,000 Minnesotans were approved for benefits during the first six months of the state’s Paid Leave program, with nearly $600 million distributed to workers taking time away from their jobs for qualifying family, medical and safety-related needs.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development reported that recipients received an average weekly payment of $1,083.

Minnesota Paid Leave began operating Jan. 1. It provides partial wage replacement and job protections for eligible workers who need time to bond with a child, manage a serious health condition, care for a family member or address certain qualifying safety needs.

The program is separate from Minnesota’s earned sick and safe time requirements.

Bonding Leave Accounts for More Than 38,000 Approvals

More than 38,000 bonding-leave applications were approved during the program’s first six months.

Bonding leave allows eligible parents to take protected time following the arrival of a child without losing their entire income during the absence.

The early data also show that 54 percent of applicants earned less than $78,000 annually, 58 percent were younger than 40 and 64 percent were women.

Forty-four percent lived outside the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area, suggesting the program is reaching workers in both urban and rural Minnesota.

Before the state program began, access to paid family leave varied substantially among employers, occupations and income groups. Workers in lower-wage positions were often less likely to receive paid time away from work than employees in higher-paying professional jobs.

Nationally, only 27 percent of workers have employer-provided access to paid family leave, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How Benefits Are Being Funded

DEED said the nearly $600 million paid to workers came from several sources.

Minnesota established a $668 million benefit account when the Paid Leave law was enacted in 2023. The state also collected more than $300 million in worker and employer premiums during the program’s first quarter and reported approximately $70 million in savings associated with the program’s launch.

The benefit does not necessarily replace a worker’s full paycheck. Weekly payments are determined using a formula connected to income, subject to program limits.

Applicants also must have an approved qualifying reason and provide any required certification.

Job Protection Is a Central Part of the Program

Paid Leave is designed to provide more than temporary income.

Eligible workers may also receive legal protection allowing them to return to the same job or an equivalent position after approved leave, subject to the program’s requirements.

That protection can be critical for someone recovering from an illness, welcoming a child or caring for a seriously ill relative. Without it, taking necessary time away could expose a worker to unemployment and greater financial instability.

Workers should communicate with their employer and review the state’s eligibility and notice requirements before beginning leave whenever circumstances allow.

A person facing an unexpected medical or safety emergency may have different notice requirements from someone planning leave for a scheduled procedure or expected birth.

Workers Can Apply Directly Through the State

Minnesota Paid Leave is administered by a division of DEED. Workers do not need to purchase a private policy to participate in the state program.

Applicants can create an account, review required documentation and submit a claim through the official Paid Leave website.

Health-care providers and other authorized professionals may need to certify the condition supporting a medical or caregiving claim.

DEED has also developed guidance for workers who expect to need leave soon but are uncertain where to begin, along with instructional materials for employers, families and service providers.

MinneapoliMedia | Community. Culture. Civic Life.

Sources

• Minnesota DEED: State Paid Leave Program Is Supporting 75,000 Minnesotans
• Minnesota Paid Leave: Information for Workers and Families
• Minnesota Paid Leave Application Portal

MinneapoliMedia | Community. Culture. Civic Life.