Applications for Frontline Worker Pay (“hero pay”) from the state of Minnesota are now open, and some Local 49 members may qualify. The deadline to apply is July 22.
Local 49 advocated for members to be included in the pool of workers eligible for payments, which will come from a fund recently passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the governor.
Not all members will be eligible, but if you believe you may qualify, consider filling out an application. If you’re a paid-on-call/volunteer first responder, you may qualify for a payment independently from your normal job.
More information:
- General Information
- Frequently Asked Questions (including list of frontline sectors)
- Fact Sheet: Application Basics
To be eligible for Frontline Worker Pay, the applicant:
- Must have been employed at least 120 hours in Minnesota in one or more frontline sectors between March 15, 2020, and June 30, 2021.
- For the hours worked during this time period the applicant both:
- Was not able to telework due to the nature of the individual’s work.
- Worked in close proximity to people outside of the individual’s household.
- Must meet the income requirements for at least one year between Dec. 31, 2019, and Jan. 1, 2022:
- Workers with direct COVID-19 patient care responsibilities must have had an adjusted gross income of less than $350,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly, or less than $175,000 for other filers.
- For workers in occupations without direct COVID-19 patient care responsibilities, the adjusted gross income limit is $185,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly, or $85,000 for other filers.
- Must not have received an unemployment insurance benefit payment for more than 20 weeks on a cumulative basis for weeks between March 15, 2020, and June 26, 2021.
Note: These eligibility requirements may be subject to change by the state of Minnesota, and this post should not be viewed as a final authority on the matter.
