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THE MINNESOTA GUIDE

Parental leave
in Minnesota.

Minnesota has a paid bonding benefit for eligible covered workers. Check the payment rules and the protection for your time away separately.

Reviewed October 7, 2026 · Birth, adoption & foster placement
Paid program activeUp to 12 weeks

Maximum bonding duration for eligible workers; other leave used can reduce the balance.

Official program / source ↗

What could you be paid?

The program uses wage-replacement tiers rather than one flat percentage. The initial 2026 weekly maximum is $1,423. Use the official estimator for your covered wage history and confirm the rate applicable to your benefit year.

Who may qualify?

The initial 2026 financial threshold is $3,900 in covered earnings in the applicable base period. Minnesota work coverage, exclusions and self-employed enrollment affect eligibility.

What protects your job?

Paid Leave provides job protections; restoration has its own employment-service rules. Minnesota’s separate unpaid pregnancy and parental-leave law may also help workers who do not qualify for the paid program.

Recovery leave and bonding

Up to 12 weeks of medical leave plus up to 12 weeks of family leave, limited to 20 combined weeks per benefit year. Two 12-week categories do not add up to 24 available weeks.

Notice, dates, and deadlines

Benefits began January 1, 2026. Bonding and medical leave have different certification requirements. Review notice and continuing reporting instructions before choosing a split schedule.

How to apply

Apply through paidleave.mn.gov, or confirm whether an approved equivalent plan handles the claim. Keep employer leave approval and the state benefit determination together.

Before you choose your dates

Ask for one written timeline showing the source of pay and the protection for each part of your absence. Include prior leave used, any waiting period, employer top-up rules, health-premium payments, and the first scheduled workday after leave. The maximum listed above is not a personal approval.

Your application folder

  • Employer contact, work location, hire date, wage records and schedule.
  • Proof of birth or placement accepted by the program.
  • Medical certification only when the requested leave reason requires it.
  • Proposed dates, any split schedule, and the employer’s notice confirmation.
  • Submitted forms, receipt numbers, decisions, and appeal deadlines.

After approval, check whether continuing certifications or weekly claims are required. Report work, other payments and date changes accurately. A state payment approval does not automatically update the employer’s absence record.

Official sources & further reading

Source review: October 7, 2026. Rules can change; the administrator makes the final determination.