Complaints about Minnesota’s new paid family and medical leave program are continuing to mount, with Alpha News receiving a surge of additional tips since first reporting on the issue earlier this month.
The program, funded by a payroll tax on workers and employers across the state, is facing growing criticism as applicants report delays, denials and confusion — raising questions about whether it is equipped to handle complex or urgent cases.
Some workers say the shift to the state’s paid leave program has replaced employer-based short-term disability benefits, leaving them without pay while waiting for decisions.
Military officer alleges discrimination after paid leave denial
A Minnesota Air Force Reserve lieutenant colonel told Alpha News the state’s new paid family and medical leave program repeatedly denied benefits she sought while caring for children she shares custody of with her ex-husband during his military deployment.
Lt. Col. Katherine Reichert said her former husband has been on active-duty orders since October 2025 and is expected to remain deployed through September 2026, leaving her as the primary caregiver for their three children, including one with serious health needs requiring frequent appointments.
She said she has continued to meet her own military obligations while trying to maintain civilian employment with reduced hours.
Reichert said she filed three separate applications for paid family leave beginning Jan. 14 but claims the process was marked by administrative errors, including being instructed to withdraw and refile applications after the state categorized her claims incorrectly.
One of her applications, she said, remains listed as “in review” more than three months later.
State documentation she received initially indicated she met eligibility requirements and qualified for weekly benefits, she said. However, after being directed to refile, the process ultimately led to a denial, an appeal and two hearings before an administrative judge who upheld the denial.
She said her case is now being reviewed by attorneys for potential violations of the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, known as USERRA, which protects service members from discrimination tied to military obligations.
Reichert said she believes the judge’s questioning and overall handling of the case reflected bias against her due to her military status.
“There seems to be a clear pattern of discrimination against military service members in this program,” Reichert told Alpha News.
County worker left without pay after surgery as claim remains ‘in review’
Reichert’s experience is not isolated.
A 58-year-old Olmsted County employee says he has been left without income for weeks following heart surgery while his paid leave application remains stuck “in review.”
The worker, who spoke to Alpha News about his experience and asked not to be named, said he applied for Minnesota’s paid leave program in early March after scheduling a valve repair procedure at Mayo Clinic.
His leave was expected to run from March 19 through mid-May, covering both pre-surgical testing and recovery time.
But more than a month later, he says he is still waiting.
“It keeps saying it’s in review,” he told Alpha News.
The delay has left him without income during his recovery — a situation he said would not have happened under the county’s previous benefits system.
According to the employee, Olmsted County previously offered short-term disability coverage that paid roughly two-thirds of an employee’s wages after a brief waiting period.
“That was no issue,” he said, describing a prior surgery when benefits were processed smoothly.
However, he said the county eliminated that option and transitioned to the state’s paid leave program.
“They had to follow law and go through this Minnesota paid leave system,” he said.
Now, instead of receiving timely payments, he said he has been navigating delays and administrative confusion, including having to resubmit corrected paperwork after a clerical error.
Despite confirming that the corrected documents were received, he said his application remains pending.
“Why can’t they just fix it?” he said.
‘Could be up to six months’: Caregiver waits as 97-year-old mother enters hospice
One Minnesota resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said they applied for benefits more than two months ago while preparing to bring their 97-year-old mother home on hospice care.
Despite being approved for unpaid leave through the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) after 16 years with their employer, the individual said they are still waiting for a determination from the state program.
“They told me it could be up to six months,” the person said.
The delay comes as the resident faces mounting costs associated with their mother’s care. After a 20-day rehabilitation stay covered by insurance, they said the facility began charging $218 per day — or roughly $6,000 per month.
“I’m trying to have her come home so I can take care of her,” the individual said, noting that without paid leave benefits, the financial burden is becoming increasingly difficult to manage.
“They are taking money out of every tax-paying Minnesotan but the system seems to be broken. Where is our money going?”
DEED responds to Alpha News’ inquiry
Alpha News reached out to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) with questions regarding processing delays, average wait times and the number of complaints received since the program launched.
DEED responded in a statement: “Minnesotans should apply as soon as they know that they will need leave. They can apply up to 60 days before they need leave. If they can’t apply in advance but are later approved, they can be paid for the days they were already on leave.
The fastest way for someone’s application to be reviewed is if they enter complete and accurate information, and include all required documentation. When Minnesotans reach out to us about their Paid Leave applications, we help them through the process to submit a complete application so it can be reviewed in a timely manner.
We are committed to continuously improving how the program operates. We rigorously review every application to ensure limited program funds go where they are needed. We have made improvements to more quickly and securely verify applicant identity — which improves processing time — and to help employers efficiently complete their employee verification review.”
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
