Minnesota · MN Paid Leave
Minnesota paid family leave
Minnesota Paid Leave began collecting contributions and paying benefits in 2026, with an equivalent private plan option available to employers.
At a glance
Maximum duration
12 weeks family leave, 12 weeks medical leave, 20 weeks combined maximum per benefit year
Benefit formula
Progressive formula of 90% down to 55% of average weekly wage
Waiting period
None
Private plans
Program detail
How MN Paid Leave works
MN Paid Leave
- Program
- Minnesota Paid Leave (MN Paid Leave)
- Contributions effective
- January 1, 2026
- Benefits effective
- January 1, 2026
- Covered employers
- Nearly all Minnesota employers, with premium reductions available to small employers
- Employee eligibility
- Earned at least 5.3% of the state average annual wage during the base period
- Covered reasons
- Own serious health condition
- Bond with a new child
- Care for a family member with a serious health condition
- Qualifying military exigency
- Safe leave related to domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking
- Maximum duration
- 12 weeks family leave, 12 weeks medical leave, 20 weeks combined maximum per benefit year
- Waiting period
- None
- Contribution rate
- 0.88% of taxable wages in 2026
- Employee share
- Employers may deduct up to 50% of the premium
- Benefit formula
- Progressive formula of 90% down to 55% of average weekly wage
- Maximum weekly benefit
- Capped at the state average weekly wage
- Private plans allowed
- YesFully insuredSelf-funded
- Approval and election
- Equivalent private plans must be approved by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and may not cost employees more than the state plan.
- State resource
- paidleave.mn.gov/
- Information as of
- January 1, 2026
What this means for you
Employer and employee view
If you are the employer
Minnesota permits a private plan, so you can meet the mandate with a Limemint plan instead of the state fund. It must be at least as generous as MN Paid Leave, and employee contributions cannot exceed the state rate.
Minnesota is an upcoming state for us. We write private plans in New York today, with New Jersey and Massachusetts launching soon, and we can tell you where Minnesota sits on the roadmap.
Equivalent private plans must be approved by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and may not cost employees more than the state plan.
Employer detailIf you are an employee
You qualify based on earned at least 5.3% of the state average annual wage during the base period. Benefits run for 12 weeks family leave, 12 weeks medical leave, 20 weeks combined maximum per benefit year, and there is no waiting period before your first payable week.
How to file a claimEstimate
What MN Paid Leave might pay
A rough figure based on the published formula and weekly maximum. Nothing is submitted.
Estimate your weekly benefit
Two inputs, a rough number. Nothing is submitted or saved.
Enter your average weekly pay to see an estimate for MN Paid Leave.
This is an estimate only. Your actual weekly benefit depends on your base-period wages, the state formula in effect when your leave begins, and any other income you receive during leave. It is not a determination of eligibility or a promise of payment.
Other jurisdictions
Compare nearby programs
New York is available now. New Jersey and Massachusetts are launching soon. The rest are upcoming states.
Talk to a specialist
Discuss a Minnesota plan
Talk to a specialist
Tell us where your employees work and how you handle leave today. We will walk through the statutory programs that apply, your private plan options, and what implementation looks like.
Helpful to have ready
- Which states mandate paid family leave for your workforce
- Where a private plan is permitted and what the election process involves
- How the coverage and leave management platform work as one system
Best for
Employers, insurance brokers, and benefit administrators with multi-state obligations or an upcoming effective date.