Minnesota earns approval for Lost Wages Assistance program

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WKBT) – Governor Tim Walz announced Saturday the state of Minnesota received approval to be in the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program.

The LWA program grants Minnesota residents a temporary benefit of $300 per week for those getting unemployment benefits.

Any applicant has to be unemployed because of the pandemic, and must also be receiving at least $100 per week of unemployment benefits. There is no need to reapply is an individual is receiving unemployment benefits.

“I am glad that Minnesotans receiving unemployment benefits will receive an additional $300 a week to help make ends meet during this crisis,” Governor Walz said in a press release. “We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to help Minnesotans through this pandemic.”

All payment requests from the week of July 26 onward will be reviewed by DEED Unemployment Insurance, and will pay anyone who is eligible to receive the $300 per week.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued approval for the state to be in the LWA program.

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