Minnesota rejects 200K pandemic worker bonus check applications

ST. PAUL — The state of Minnesota has rejected more than 200,000 applications for front-line worker bonus pay from almost 1.2 million applicants.

Legislators passed a bill this spring to provide $500 million in bonus checks to workers who had to report to their jobs during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and put themselves at greater risk than those who were able to work remotely. Workers eligible for “hero pay” included health care workers, meat packers, janitors, teachers and others.

Workers had until July 22 to apply for the bonus pay, and the state ended up receiving 1,199,416 applications — more than twice the 667,000 applications lawmakers expected to receive.

https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/minnesota/minnesota-rejects-200k-pandemic-worker-bonus-check-applications