Minnesota Leaders Report 12,000 Applications for New Paid Leave Program

Table of Contents

ST. PAUL, Minn. (GRAY) – Minnesota has seen a significant surge in applications for its new Paid Leave program, with nearly 12,000 applications submitted so far. The initiative officially launched on January 1, but the state’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) also accounted for a large number of applications that came in during a soft-launch period in December.

The soft launch allowed employees to apply for bonding leave if they had a newborn in 2025. This early access helped ease the transition into the full implementation of the law.

The new law enables Minnesotans to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for eligible situations. These include childbirth, parental bonding, medical emergencies, and family caretaking responsibilities. Employers who already offer leave benefits that meet or exceed the program’s standards can opt out of the state-run program.

Since New Year’s Eve, the program has received approximately 3,100 applications. On New Year’s Eve alone, DEED received 1,249 applications, followed by 1,931 on New Year’s Day. Deputy Commissioner Evan Rowe highlighted the high volume of submissions, noting that the department is working diligently to process each claim efficiently.

Of the total applications, DEED has made determinations on around 6,000 of them. According to Rowe, about two-thirds of these have been approved, while roughly 1,100 were denied and approximately 1,000 were withdrawn.

A DEED spokesperson explained that some applicants may have withdrawn their applications to make changes or due to changing circumstances. The withdrawal rate reflects the dynamic nature of personal and professional needs.

Rowe emphasized that the department has a team of 70 adjudicators dedicated to processing each claim. State law allows up to 14 days for processing, but the team is currently averaging about a week per application.

This efficiency is partly due to a detailed checklist that must be completed for each claim. The checklist ensures that applicants are verified and that their requests are valid and certified by the appropriate entities under the law.

“We need to make sure that the person is who they say they are, and that the need is valid and certified by the entity that has been charged under the law with certifying the need,” Rowe said.

DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek stated that the department has implemented a strict checklist to prevent abuse or misuse of the system. This includes:

• Identity verification
• Validation of medical necessity for medical leave applications
• Verification of family members in the case of bonding leave
• Opportunities for employers and the public to report any suspicious activity

Varilek noted that the department is committed to maintaining the integrity of the program while ensuring it remains accessible and beneficial for all Minnesotans.

As the program continues to roll out, DEED remains focused on providing timely and accurate support to those who qualify for paid leave. The initial response from applicants has been overwhelming, but the department is confident in its ability to manage the workload and uphold the standards set by the new law.