Minnesota will start sending out payments to more than 1 million Minnesotan frontline workers Wednesday, in an effort to recognize their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every person who applied will receive an email by Wednesday informing them of whether or not they were approved, which has left some St. Thomas students “patiently waiting” for their email and others “excited” about the result.

Eligible workers include those in the long-term care and home care industries, health care, the courts, child care, public schools, retail, food service, public transit and manufacturing.

Junior Brett Strandskov, who worked in the food service during the pandemic, had not received his email of acceptance or denial as of 11 a.m. Wednesday, which he said has left him “patiently waiting.”

“I wasn’t denied from the appeal process in the summertime, so I’m hopeful, and I’m just kind of waiting,” Strandskov said. “If I do, it’s great; if I don’t, I’m not gonna be super mad, but it’d be a nice little mid-semester incentive.”

The Legislature approved a total of $500 million for eligible applicants, and Gov. Tim Walz signed it into law in April. However, because nearly 1.2 million applications were submitted during the 45-day application period this summer, individual payments will be $487.45–a much lower amount than the originally anticipated $750.

Junior Annabel Schueneman, who received her approval email Tuesday, said the lower amount was “slightly disappointing,” but she was “still excited to get a little extra money.”

“I’ll probably just put it towards school,” Schueneman said. “I’m studying abroad in the spring, so maybe I’ll use it for that.”

Frontline workers who chose direct deposit should get their money within seven to 10 business days; those who chose to get their payments via debit cards will get them within three to four weeks.

“The money is subject to federal income tax but not state income tax,” said Nicole Blissenbach, temporary commissioner of the state Department of Labor and Industry.

When asked if legislators might approve more money for frontline workers, given that Democrats had to settle for less than they wanted, Democratic Rep. Cedric Frazier, of New Hope, said, “I personally believe we should take more action … but we’ll have to see what that looks like in the next session.”

Cam Kauffman can be reached at kauf8536@stthomas.edu.