Paid Leave program protections aim to reduce fraudulent usage

A family and medical benefit insurance program for full- and part-time Minnesota workers begins Jan. 1, 2026.

Per its website, Minnesota Paid Leave “provides payments and job protections to people who need time away from work for their own health or to care for a family member.”

The program’s arrival comes after the well-publicized potential that billions of dollars in fraud have been uncovered in other state-run programs, including “Feeding Our Future,” housing stabilization and autism treatment.

“It is our strong hope that internal controls in this program are robust and are followed because we do not want to be back here a year from now having a fraud hearing,” said Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove). She chairs the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee that received an overview Wednesday of anti-fraud controls.