Workers on the front lines can now cash from their efforts for Hero Pay. The application period for pandemic bonus pay began on Wednesday morning, however there were some glitches. Many people have expressed dissatisfaction with the application process. Minnesota’s Department of Labor and Industry says it’s working with vendors to allow more applicants to log in due to heavy demand.
If you are experiencing delays in the identity verification section of the application, please try refreshing your browser. It is also possible to save your application and return to it at a later time. 2/3
— Labor and Industry (@mndli) June 8, 2022
The application procedure began at 8 a.m., and by noon, over 28,500 applications had been submitted. Kurt Schiebel claims he was able to get into his app just before 8 a.m. While he was concerned that submitting it would be difficult due to technological difficulties, he was able to do it quickly.
“I’m comfortable with an extra few bucks for the stuff we went through and some of the dangers we took,” Schiebel, who works at Washington Magnate School in St. Paul, said.
Others, such as Jennifer Trask, a Bemidji Middle School teacher, had a difficult time getting through.
“I expect there will be issues because it’s the first day,” said Trask, who teaches 8th grade special education. “It’s just nice to know that other people are having the same problems as me, and it’s not my fault.” It’s worth noting that eligible employees have 45 days to apply for bonus pay, and it’s not a first-come, first-served situation. The application will likely remain open until July 22.
On April 29, Gov. Tim Walz signed the Frontline Worker Pay bill into law, allocating $500 million to people who meet the conditions. The law is intended to express gratitude to Minnesotans who served on the front lines during COVID-19’s peacetime emergency. The program’s eligibility is divided into two parts: employment requirements and job sector. Between March 15, 2020, and June 30, 2021, applicants must have worked at least 120 hours in one or more frontline sectors in Minnesota.
Furthermore, due to the nature of their profession, the candidate must not have been allowed to telework and must have worked with persons outside of their family. Each qualifying applicant who is accepted for Frontline Worker Pay will receive a $1,500 award. According to the state, some 667,000 Minnesotans are eligible, so they should receive a $750 payout.
Applicants who are refused the bonus have 15 days from the date of notification to appeal the decision. Payments to approved workers are expected in the early fall, depending on the amount of time it takes to complete applications, appeals, and payments.
Click here for a detailed list of eligibility requirements as well as to apply for Frontline Worker Pay.