Minnesota’s new Paid Family and Sick Leave Program has come in $70 million under budget during early rollout.
State officials announced Monday that this surplus will be funneled directly back into the fund used for resident claims.
The program has already processed nearly 48,000 applications with an average weekly payout of $1,100.
It's also been far from a rubber stamp. Roughly 20,000 applicants have faced initial denials so far.
Moving forward, the department will continue to monitor these approval rates and the long-term stability of the payroll tax funding as more residents utilize the program.
In January, Department of Employment and Economic Development Deputy Commissioner Evan Rowe says they're also keeping a close eye on fraud, saying they have stopped numerous attempts already.
"When people aren't who they claim to be, when people submit false documentation to us, you know, suggesting that they have spoken with a medical provider, when in fact they have not spoken with a medical provider and gotten the appropriate certification," explains Rowe.
Funding for the program is provided by a payroll tax on employers.