Subdivision 1.Application for benefits; determination of benefit account.

(a) An application for benefits may be filed up to 60 days before leave taken under chapter 268B in person, by mail, or by electronic transmission as the commissioner may require. The applicant must include certification supporting a request for leave under this chapter. The applicant must meet eligibility requirements and must provide all requested information in the manner required. If the applicant fails to provide all requested information, the communication is not an application for family and medical leave benefits.

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(b) The commissioner must examine each application for benefits to determine the base period and the benefit year, and based upon all the covered employment in the base period the commissioner must determine the weekly benefit amount available, if any, and the maximum amount of benefits available, if any. The determination, which is a document separate and distinct from a document titled a determination of eligibility or determination of ineligibility, must be titled determination of benefit account. A determination of benefit account must be sent to the applicant and all base period employers, by mail or electronic transmission.

(c) If a base period employer did not provide wage detail information for the applicant as required under section 268B.12, the commissioner may accept an applicant certification of wage credits, based upon the applicant’s records, and issue a determination of benefit account.

(d) The commissioner may, at any time within 12 months from the establishment of a benefit account, reconsider any determination of benefit account and make an amended determination if the commissioner finds that the wage credits listed in the determination were incorrect for any reason. An amended determination of benefit account must be promptly sent to the applicant and all base period employers, by mail or electronic transmission. This paragraph does not apply to documents titled determinations of eligibility or determinations of ineligibility issued.

(e) If an amended determination of benefit account reduces the weekly benefit amount or maximum amount of benefits available, any benefits that have been paid greater than the applicant was entitled is an overpayment of benefits. A determination or amended determination issued under this section that results in an overpayment of benefits must set out the amount of the overpayment and the requirement that the overpaid benefits must be repaid according to section 268B.185.

Subd. 2.Benefit account requirements.

To establish a benefit account, an applicant must have wage credits of at least 5.3 percent of the state‘s average annual wage rounded down to the next lower $100.

Subd. 3.Weekly benefit amount; maximum amount of benefits available; prorated amount.

(a) Subject to the maximum weekly benefit amount, an applicant’s weekly benefit is calculated by adding the amounts obtained by applying the following percentage to an applicant’s average typical workweek and weekly wage during the high quarter of the base period:

(1) 90 percent of wages that do not exceed 50 percent of the state’s average weekly wage; plus

(2) 66 percent of wages that exceed 50 percent of the state’s average weekly wage but not 100 percent; plus

(3) 55 percent of wages that exceed 100 percent of the state’s average weekly wage.

(b) The state’s average weekly wage is the average wage as calculated under section 268.035, subdivision 23, at the time a benefit amount is first determined.

(c) The maximum weekly benefit amount is the state’s average weekly wage as calculated under section 268.035, subdivision 23.

(d) The state’s maximum weekly benefit amount, computed in accordance with section 268.035, subdivision 23, applies to a benefit account established effective on or after the last Sunday in October. Once established, an applicant’s weekly benefit amount is not affected by the last Sunday in October change in the state’s maximum weekly benefit amount.

(e) For an employee receiving family or medical leave, a weekly benefit amount is prorated when:

(1) the employee works hours for wages;

(2) the employee uses paid sick leave, paid vacation leave, or other paid time off that is not considered a supplemental benefit payment as defined in section 268B.01, subdivision 41; or

(3) leave is taken intermittently.

Subd. 4.Timing of payment.

Except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, benefits must be paid weekly.

Subd. 5.Maximum length of benefits.

(a) The total number of weeks that an applicant may take benefits in a single benefit year for a serious health condition is the lesser of 12 weeks, or 12 weeks minus the number of weeks within the same benefit year that the applicant received benefits for bonding, safety leave, family care, or qualifying exigency plus eight weeks.

(b) The total number of weeks that an applicant may take benefits in a single benefit year for bonding, safety leave, family care, or qualifying exigency is the lesser of 12 weeks, or 12 weeks minus the number of weeks within the same benefit year that the applicant received benefits for a serious health condition plus eight weeks.

Subd. 6.Minimum period for which benefits payable.

Except for a claim for benefits for bonding leave, any claim for benefits must be based on a single qualifying event of at least seven calendar days. The minimum duration to receive benefits under this chapter is one work day in a work week.

Subd. 7.Right of appeal.

(a) A determination or amended determination of benefit account is final unless an appeal is filed by the applicant within 60 calendar days after the sending of the determination or amended determination.

(b) Any applicant may appeal from a determination or amended determination of benefit account on the issue of whether services performed constitute employment, whether the employment is covered employment, and whether money paid constitutes wages.

Subd. 8.Limitations on applications and benefit accounts.

An application for family or medical leave benefits is effective the Sunday of the calendar week that the application was filed. An application for benefits may be backdated one calendar week before the Sunday of the week the application was actually filed if the applicant requests the backdating within seven calendar days of the date the application is filed. An application may be backdated only if the applicant was eligible for the benefit during the period of the backdating. If an individual attempted to file an application for benefits, but was prevented from filing an application by the department, the application is effective the Sunday of the calendar week the individual first attempted to file an application.