Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program

• Employers within the state pay special employment taxes to fund the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Program. Minnesota employers cannot offset their tax responsibilities by deducting wages from their employees' paychecks to fund the state's unemployment program. Employers pay state taxes based on their total unemployment rates for the last two tax years or based on experience ratings determined by the state.
  
  

Minnesota Unemployment Eligibility

• To qualify for unemployment benefits, Minnesota requires employees to be unemployed through no fault of their own. Minnesota also provides unemployment benefits to employees who are working but under a modified schedule and receiving significantly less money. Unemployed applicants must be legal U.S. residents or citizens and have earned enough wages from Minnesota employers. Additionally, applicants must be available for work and actively looking for other employment. If recipients travel as part of their seasonal job requirements, they do not qualify for benefits during the weeks they do not actively look for work or are not within a geographical area where they could work.
  
  

Seasonal Employment Rules

• Unemployed workers must be available and ready to accept any suitable work, according to the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance Agency. This includes the willingness to travel a reasonable distance, accept reasonable wages and accept work during shifts that workers in that profession customarily work. Seasonal workers can look for seasonal work so long as they accept suitable work during their off-seasons. Similarly, part-time workers can look for part-time work.
  
  

No Seasonal Exceptions

• Under Minnesota law, seasonal workers must continue to search for any employment, even seasonal employment, and make a concerted effort in finding other employment. When temporarily unemployed seasonal workers expect to return to their seasonal positions, Minnesota law requires them to look for other work while they are unemployed to qualify for unemployment benefits. Additionally, no exceptions exist to the requirement to look for other work. Disabled workers, even temporarily disabled workers, cannot qualify for unemployment benefits in Minnesota during the weeks they are disabled or unable to work.
  
  

Considerations

• Since employment laws can frequently change, do not use this information as a substitute for legal advice. Seek advice through an attorney licensed to practice law in your jurisdiction.