How To Apply For Unemployment In Minnesota

MINNESOTA — The new coronavirus, and the necessary quarantines put in place to reduce the spread — has disrupted Minnesota's economy and forced many people out of work.

On March 16, Gov. Tim Walz ordered the closure of restaurants, bars, and many other public places such as theaters, museums, fitness centers, and community clubs.

In an effort to support Minnesotans affected by the closures, Walz signed Executive Order 20-05 to strengthen the state's Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and ensure that workers who are not able to work as a result of COVID-19 have benefits available.

Specifically, the order waives the employer surcharge and allow the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development to pay unemployment benefits immediately, providing fast relief to employees who need it.

You can apply for unemployment in Minnesota online here.

In a news release Tuesday, DEED offered answers to the most common unemployment-related questions the agency gets.

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Find those questions, and their answers, below:

Who is eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits?

The core principle of unemployment insurance is that you are eligible if you are disconnected from your job by no fault of your own. Executive Order 20-05 extends that definition in the following ways.

You are eligible if:

• You have temporarily or permanently lost your job or had your hours reduced because of COVID-19
• A healthcare professional or health authority recommended or ordered you to avoid contact with others due to COVID-19.
• You have been ordered not to come to their workplace due to an outbreak of COVID-19.
• You have received notification from a school district, daycare, or other childcare provider that either classes are canceled or your ordinary childcare is unavailable, provided that you made reasonable effort to obtain other childcare and requested time off or other accommodation from your employer and no reasonable accommodation was available.

Q: How do I apply for Unemployment Insurance?

If you have temporarily or permanently lost your job or had your hours reduced because of COVID-19, you should apply for unemployment insurance benefits. Apply online at uimn.org. Applying online is important to provide for the most efficient processing during this unprecedented situation.

Applying online also saves phone lines for those who speak a language other than English or don’t have internet access.

Should I take paid leave/sick leave due to this crisis, or take unemployment insurance?

Generally you should exhaust other forms of leave as they will pay you more than UI, but that is up to every individual worker. Unemployment benefits are designed to provide about 50% of your regular wages and paid leave or sick leave typically provide more income if they are available.

How much in benefits am I eligible for?

Unemployment insurance pays approximately half what a worker’s average weekly wage was over the last year, to a maximum of $740 per week. Typically, benefits last for 26 weeks if an individual is fully unemployed for each week.

I was laid off today, how soon will I start to receive benefits?

We will process your application as quickly as possible. Submitting your application online is the most efficient way for us to process your application. The uimn.org website is able to accept applications Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. We are working to add Sunday hours.

I am a freelancer or self-employed, do I qualify for UI benefits?

The UI program is designed primarily for laid off workers who worked for an employer. Most Minnesota workers are “covered” by the UI program. Some self-employed individuals and independent contractors have previously elected to be covered by the UI program and they qualify for UI benefits. There is no assistance from the UI program for self-employed workers and independent contractors who have not previously elected coverage.

Is there anything DEED can do to help my business avoid layoffs?

If employers meet eligibility requirements, you may be able to enroll in the Shared Work Program. This program offers an alternative to layoffs in which employees work reduced hours during a temporary slowdown. Employees are paid unemployment benefits to offset part of their reduced wages. Employers with questions about the Shared Work Program should contact DEED at shared.work@state.mn.us.

If I’m taking paid or sick leave during this time, am I eligible for UI?

Generally, if you are taking other forms of leave payment, you are not eligible for UI.

How much money does Minnesota have in its UI Trust Fund?

Minnesota’s UI trust fund currently has a healthy amount of funding in it. We know we’re facing a surge in applications and will model this carefully. The federal government is currently considering providing additional emergency funds to all states. When states trust fund run dry, they can apply for 0% interest loans from the federal government.

Also read: Coronavirus: 89 Cases In Minnesota, Now In 18 Counties