COVID-19 Resource
This article was last updated March 23, 2020 at 3:00 pm.
On March 16, 2020 Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued an executive order to ensure workers affected by COVID-19 pandemic have full access to unemployment benefits. Check out these Unemployment FAQs:
Q.If an employer has to reduce employee hours, will they be eligible for unemployment?
- An employee is not eligible for benefits in any week they work 32 hours or more, or when their gross earnings for the week are equal to or greater than their weekly benefit amount. A partial benefit payment may be made for any week they work fewer than 32 hours and earnings are less than their weekly benefit amount.
Q. How much benefit will an employee receive?
- A Determination of Benefit Account will be sent to each applicant telling them how much they are eligible for. The weekly benefit amount is about 50 percent of their average weekly wage up to a state maximum of $740.
Q. Is there a waiting period?
- The nonpayable or “waiting” week has been waived for employees affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q. Normally a person receiving unemployment benefits has to actively seek employment. Will my laid off employees need to look for other work?
- If they have been laid off temporarily, they can meet the work search requirement by staying in contact with their current employer.
Q. Will my employer MN Unemployment Insurance tax rate be increased if an employee received unemployment benefits as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?
- No, Governor Walz issued an executive order to relieve taxpaying employers of benefit charges associated with COVID-19.
Here is a great video resource to have employees review before completing the application process.
