More than one million applicants approved for Frontline Worker Payments

Payments begin processing Wednesday, Oct. 5

The 1,025,655 Minnesota workers who worked on the frontlines during the COVID-19 peacetime emergency, and applied and met all eligibility requirements of the Frontline Worker Pay Program, will receive a payment of $487.45 beginning Wednesday, Oct. 5.

Approved applicants who chose to receive payment via ACH direct deposit will see funds deposited within seven to 10 business days; those who chose to receive payment via debit card will be mailed their funds within three to four weeks.

• View the Frontline Worker Pay payment FAQs [1].

Appeal determinations, reasons for denials

Of the applications submitted, 173,666 were deemed ineligible. According to the Frontline Worker Pay law, decisions on appeal are final.

Reasons for denial

1. The application was deemed a duplicate.
2. The applicant exceeded the unemployment insurance benefit threshold established in the law.
3. The applicant exceeded the adjusted gross income threshold established in the law.
4. The applicant's employment eligibility could not be verified.
5. The applicant's identity could not be verified.
6. The applicant was eligible for, but did not submit, one or more appeal forms during the 15-day appeal period, Aug. 16 through 31 (by 5 p.m. CT).
7. View the Frontline Worker Pay denial FAQs [2].

About Frontline Worker Pay

The Frontline Worker Pay Program was administered by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), which partnered with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the Minnesota Department of Revenue and Minnesota IT Services, and contracted with an application management vendor.

The Frontline Worker Pay law [3], dedicating $500 million for equal payments to eligible applicants, was signed by Gov. Tim Walz on April 29. Online applications were accepted for 45 days, June 8 through July 22, followed by time to process and verify the nearly 1.2 million submitted applications. Those whose applications were denied had a right to file an appeal during a 15-day appeal period, Aug. 16 through 31, which was followed by an appeal processing period.

As required by the law, DLI will release a report detailing the program