Dear Neighbors,
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development announced that it has started dispersing the initial pandemic unemployment assistance payments to self-employed, contract, and other workers in Minnesota who are not normally eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. If you are an eligible worker in these categories whose employment has been interrupted as a result of COVID-19, you can find instructions for how to apply for unemployment, and you can submit your application for unemployment insurance benefits, here.
If you have already applied, or did not follow these specific instructions when applying, you do not need to reapply for unemployment. MN DEED will be proactively reaching out to everyone regarding their eligibility by the end of April. You will also receive the additional $600/week payment, and your unemployment payments will be backdated to when you first became eligible as a result of COVID-19.
Assistance with Distance Learning
The Minnesota Department of Education underscored today the difficulties everyone is facing regarding distance learning. As a result, MDE is launching webinars for educators, as well as community based, interagency, and public-private partnership initiatives to support the full needs of educators, families, and students. One major focus is to ensure all families are able to access internet and electronic devices that are essential for students to continue to distance learn.
I want to thank all our educators and school support staff who have worked so hard to care for the academic, social, and emotional wellbeing of our students. I would also like to thank parents for everything you are doing to adjust to these challenging circumstances.
If you are sick
Minnesota's state government launched a website to provide people with critical information about COVID-19, as well as a tool through which people are able to find testing sites near them.
Keep in Touch
We are constantly assessing the situation on the ground in Minnesota, and our state is working diligently to make decisions in a deliberate, evidence-based manner. Everyone is experiencing challenges right now. Please know that I am here to assist you in any way I am able, and that everyone in our community is in my thoughts during this crisis.
Please contact me anytime with questions, input, or ideas. You can reach me on my Facebook page, by phone at 651-296-4212, or by email (preferred and quickest response) at rep.hunter.cantrell@house.mn. Don’t hesitate to reach out if I can provide any assistance!
Sincerely,
Hunter Cantrell
Your Neighbor and State Representative