AFSCME Council 5 members have been on the frontlines in our workplaces during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, risking infection of not only themselves, but of their loved ones. But they did what AFSCME members do best -We do our jobs with excellence on behalf of all Minnesotans. We were also on the frontlines in the halls of power, delivering upon one of our major legislative agenda items to provide Frontline Worker Pay to as many of our heroes as possible. Our members' activism delivered incredible results. On April 29, 2022, Governor Tim Walz signed the Frontline Worker Pay agreement into law that includes $500 million in hero pay checks to qualifying frontline workers. Our union will continue to fight for more!
Applications are now closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligible Frontline Worker Sectors
- Long-term care and home care
- Health care
- Emergency responders
- Public health, social service, and regulatory service
- Courts and corrections
- Child care
- Schools, including charter schools, state schools, and higher education
- Food service, including production, processing, preparation, sale and delivery
- Retail, including sales, fulfillment, distribution, and delivery
- Temporary shelters and hotels
- Building services, including maintenance, janitorial, and security
- Public transit
- Ground and air transportation services
- Manufacturing
- Vocational rehabilitation
Click here for additional descriptions of each workplace sector.
If I am an eligible worker, what other requirements are there to receive this check? You must have:
- Worked for at least 120 hours (in MN) between March 15, 2020 and June 30, 2021.
- Not been able to telework due to the nature of the work (at least 120 hours of non-telework would meet eligibility requirements for workers who had to perform some duties in-person) and worked in close proximity to individuals outside of their home.
- Met income requirements for either tax year 2020 or 2021:
- Workers with direct COVID-19 patient care responsibilities:
- Must have income of $350,000 or less for married taxpayer filing joint;
- Must have income of $175,000 or less for single filers and all other filers
- What does "direct COVID-19 patient care" exactly mean?
- Workers with direct COVID-19 patient care responsibilities:
- An employee had direct COVID-19 patient care responsibilities if they, as part of their assigned job duties, were responsible for providing direct care to a patient, resident or individual who was diagnosed with COVID-19.
- All others (not with direct COVID patient care):
- Must have income of $185,000 or less for married taxpayers filing a joint return;
- Must have income of $85,000 or less for single filers and other filers.
- Not received any unemployment insurance benefit payments for more than 20 cumulative weeks for the weeks between March 15, 2020 - June 26, 2021.
Will I automatically receive this benefit? When can I apply?
What information will I need to provide in order to apply?
You will need the following information to prove you meet all eligibility requirements in order to apply for frontline worker pay:
- Name
- Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Social Security Number or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN)
- Employer Name (for period from which you are applying for payments).*
- Employer Address*
- Employer Phone Number*
- Employer Email Address*
- Date of Birth
The information above will help the MN Department of Labor (DLI) compile a knowledge -based authentification question. If DLI cannot generate a question for an applicant, the applicant may need to provide a scanned copy of one of the following:
- Passport
- ID Card
- Driver's License
- Residence Permit
Applicants choosing to receive their payments via Direct Deposit will need to provide their bank routing number and account number.
Will this benefit be taxed?
How much will I receive if I am eligible?
When will checks be processed and sent?
How has our union worked on this legislation?
What if I am not specifically listed as a worker in one of the above categories, can I apply? Is there an appeals process if I am denied?
Am I still eligible even if I left my job?
Do I have to live in Minnesota to get Frontline Worker Pay?
No. Minnesota residency is not a criteria in the law. However, you must have been employed for at least 120 hours in Minnesota and meet all other criteria contained in the law to receive payment.