More than 1 million Minnesota frontline workers have applied for a share of $500 million in “hero pay” offered by the state for staying on the job during the pandemic.
Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed the Frontline Worker Pay Law in April, authorizing a one-time state funded bonus payment to various frontline workers, including assisted living employees. According to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, approximately 1.2 million frontline workers applied during a 45-day application window that closed Friday.
In addition to assisted living and other long-term care employees, eligible workers included those in healthcare, emergency response, public health, courts and correction, child care, schools, food service, retail, temporary shelters, hotels, building services, public transit, ground and air transportation services, manufacturing and vocational rehabilitation.
The state had anticipated that 667,000 frontline workers would be eligible to receive the payments. If all eligible workers applied, then the state said that each recipient would receive $750.
Applications will be processed and verified before a 15-day appeal period begins Aug. 16.
The program is administered by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, the Department of Employment and Economic Development, the Department of Revenue and Minnesota IT Services.
Although state senior living associations previously told McKnight’s Senior Living that they supported the bonuses, they said a more pressing issue is filling 23,000 open caregiver positions in assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities across the state.
