Dear Neighbors,

I hope you and your family are safe and healthy during these difficult times. Last week, Governor Walz announced an extended, modified Stay at Home order until May 18. Starting Today, retail and other “non-critical” businesses can begin offering curbside pick-up. Reopening more businesses will be a gradual process based on our ability to increase testing, isolation, and tracing to protect Minnesotans’ safety and health. The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has more information about these guidelines to slowly “turn the dials” as we’re able.

Helping Minnesotans Afford Rent and Mortgage Payments

During a Stay at Home order, it’s more important than ever for every Minnesotan to have a home. Many rent and mortgage payments were due on May 1. An executive order is in effect that places a moratorium on evictions during our peacetime emergency. The obligation to pay rent is not suspended, but many who are now out of work may be unable to pay.

The House DFL has developed a COVID-19 Economic Security Agenda, which includes $100 million to help renters pay their rent, help homeowners pay their mortgages, and help people pay utility bills and property taxes. The bill would also:

• prohibit landlords from charging late fees and terminating leases or failing to renew leases during the peacetime emergency, until Jan. 15, 2021;
• require landlords of residential units to provide notice before initiating eviction actions, after the peacetime emergency ends;
• allow defendants to request that any actions against them be dismissed if their landlord violates the provisions of the bill;
• prevent the initiation of a foreclosure during the peacetime emergency, until Jan. 15, 2021;
• make anyone who lies while attempting to claim relief under the bill guilty of public assistance fraud; and
• establish grant distribution and reporting requirements.

The initiative is supported by the Homes for All Coalition, representing 250 Minnesota housing organizations, and the Minnesota Multi-Housing Association, which represents property management companies throughout the state. So far, the Senate Republican Majority has only supported a much smaller $30 million investment in this critical area. My DFL colleagues and I will keep pushing for a more robust package to help ensure that all Minnesotans have stable housing at this critical time.

Increasing Wages for PCAs

Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) do challenging work, performing vital services to improve the lives of people with disabilities and elderly Minnesotans, allowing them to stay at home and out of a nursing facility. During the pandemic, their work is even more important.

As part of our COVID-19 Economic Security Agenda, House DFLers are moving legislation to temporarily raise PCA service rates by 15 percent. The bill would also allow PCAs to be paid for 310 hours of services per month, up from 275, and temporarily allow parents or legal guardians of a minor PCA recipient, or a spouse of a PCA recipient, to earn wages for providing PCA services during the peacetime emergency.

While the temporary increase is important now, we know this doesn’t solve the entire problem of recruiting and retaining dedicated PCAs for the long-term. I will continue to advocate for fair compensation for these dedicated Minnesotan workers.

Unemployment Insurance for Self Employed Minnesotans

DEED has begun making Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) payments for self-employed, contract, and other workers who ordinarily would not be eligible for unemployment benefits. This expansion of the UI program is part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Here’s what you need to know when applying for PUA payments:

• If you have already applied for regular unemployment benefits, you do not need to do anything extra to qualify for PUA. DEED will automatically establish a PUA benefit account for you if you are eligible.
• If you have not applied for unemployment benefits yet, special instructions for self-employed and 1099 workers are available here. These instructions include steps you can take to make your account easily identifiable as potentially eligible for PUA.
  • If you applied for unemployment benefits without following those instructions, don’t worry – you don’t need to change anything. Your account will still be reviewed for PUA eligibility.
• You will receive information about PUA benefits in your online account, by email, and by postal mail.
• Applicants who receive PUA benefits will also receive the $600/week additional payment authorized by the CARES Act.
• PUA benefits will be backdated to whenever you first became eligible due to COVID-19.

Additional information, including answers to many commonly asked questions, can be found here: COVID-19 information for self-employed people and independent contractors.

For the latest news and up-to-date information, please visit the state’s COVID-19 Dashboard. The Minnesota House website also has a COVID-19 section with information and links to helpful resources. If I can be of assistance, don’t hesitate to contact me directly at rep.tina.liebling@house.mn or call me at 507-289-4664. We’re all in this together, and we will all move past this crisis together, too.

Warmly,

Tina