Who qualifies for Minnesota Paid Leave?
Almost everyone who works in Minnesota is covered from 1 January 2026 — full-time, part-time and most seasonal workers, whatever the size of the employer. Federal and railroad employees are excluded, and the self-employed and independent contractors can choose to opt in. To receive benefits you must meet three tests:
- Wage test: you earned at least about $3,900 in wages during your base period (the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you apply). The legal figure is 5.3% of the state average annual wage, rounded down to the nearest $100.
- Work-location test: at least 50% of your work is performed in Minnesota — or, if your work is spread so that no state reaches 50%, you live in Minnesota.
- Qualifying reason: a serious health condition of your own (medical leave), a new child (bonding), caring for a family member with a serious health condition (family care), safety concerns such as domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking (safety leave), or a family member’s active-duty deployment (qualifying exigency). Most leave types require a certification — for example from a health care provider.
Your job is protected once you have worked for your employer for 90 days, and your employer must keep paying its share of your health insurance while you are on leave.
How the three benefit tiers work
Your weekly benefit is not a single percentage of your pay. Minnesota’s formula (Minn. Stat. § 268B.09) replaces a bigger share of wages for lower earners, using the state average weekly wage — $1,423 for 2026 — as the yardstick:
| Slice of your weekly wage | Replacement rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $711.50 (50% of the state average weekly wage) | 90% |
| From $711.50 to $1,423 (50%–100% of the state average) | 66% |
| Above $1,423 | 55% |
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,423 |
So a lower-wage worker can receive 90% of their normal pay, while a high earner’s blended rate falls toward 55% — and nobody receives more than $1,423 a week, however much they earn.
Worked example: a $1,000 weekly wage
Say your average weekly wage is $1,000 and you take 12 weeks of bonding leave after a new baby arrives:
- Tier 1: 90% of the first $711.50 = $640.35
- Tier 2: 66% of the remaining $288.50 ($1,000 − $711.50) = $190.41
- Tier 3: nothing — the wage is below $1,423
- Weekly benefit: $640.35 + $190.41 = $830.76 — about 83% of normal pay
- Over 12 weeks: $830.76 × 12 = $9,969.12
What did that worker pay in? On annual wages of $52,000 the total program premium is 0.88% × $52,000 = $457.60 a year, of which the employee share is at most half — $228.80 a year, about $4.40 a week. Try your own wage in the calculator above.
How to apply for Minnesota Paid Leave, step by step
- Tell your employer. If your leave is planned (a birth, a surgery), notify your employer in advance — ideally 30 days. For emergencies, tell them as soon as you can.
- Get your certification ready. Medical and family care leave need a certification from a health care provider; bonding leave needs proof of birth, adoption or foster placement; safety leave needs supporting documentation.
- Apply to the state, not your employer. Create an account and apply online at paidleave.mn.gov, or apply by phone through the Paid Leave Contact Center (651-556-7777 or 844-556-0444). Your employer cannot deny the benefit.
- Watch for your determination. DEED reviews your application and issues an official decision — most applicants hear back within about two weeks.
- Get paid by the state. Approved benefits are paid by DEED to your bank account or prepaid debit card, not through your employer’s payroll.
When does Minnesota Paid Leave start?
1 January 2026. Both premiums and benefits begin on that date — you can take paid leave for a qualifying event from the first day of the program, as long as you meet the wage and work-location tests.
How much will I get each week on Minnesota Paid Leave?
It depends on your average weekly wage. You get 90% of wages up to $711.50, plus 66% of wages between $711.50 and $1,423, plus 55% of wages above $1,423 — with a hard cap of $1,423 per week in 2026. A worker earning $1,000 a week receives $830.76 a week.
How much is the premium, and who pays it?
The total premium is 0.88% of wages, charged on wages up to the Social Security wage base ($184,500 in 2026). Your employer must pay at least half and can choose to pay all of it; your share is at most 0.44% of your wages — about $4.40 a week on a $52,000 salary. Qualifying small employers pay a reduced 0.66% total rate.
How many weeks of leave can I take?
Up to 12 weeks of medical leave and up to 12 weeks of family leave (bonding, family care, safety or qualifying exigency) in a benefit year — but if you use both, the combined maximum is 20 weeks in the same benefit year.
I work remotely for an out-of-state employer. Am I covered?
Coverage follows where you physically work, not where your employer is based. If 50% or more of your work is performed in Minnesota, you are generally covered. If your work is split so that no single state reaches 50%, living in Minnesota can also make you covered.
Is Minnesota Paid Leave the same as FMLA?
No. Federal FMLA gives eligible workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave and only applies to larger employers. Minnesota Paid Leave pays wage-replacement benefits, covers nearly all Minnesota workers regardless of employer size, and adds safety leave, which FMLA does not cover. Where both apply, they usually run at the same time rather than stacking.