Please repeal MN's Social Security UI offset

Governor Tim Walz, MN Senator Eric Pratt, MN Senator Majority Leader, Paul Gazelka

All Workers Deserve Unemployment Benefits Regardless of Age

Minnesota law is denying workers Unemployment Insurance (UI) – solely based on their age. Two laws from eras when high school students were rarely in the labor force and retirement savings were robust enough to support older adults, penalize laid off workers based on their age.
A law dating back to 1939 prohibits secondary school students from receiving UI benefits – forcing them to go without wages to pay for basic needs like rent, food, and transportation.
What’s more, Minnesota is the only state in the nation that reduces or eliminates UI benefits for some laid off workers who either receive, have applied for, or intend to apply for Social Security (SS) benefits.
These are not high-powered executives with pensions and 401K savings. These are people with few resources working at big retailers, air lines, and health care companie in order to supplement their modest Social Security benefits.
Without the additional UI benefits designed to protect them, many high school and older workers are struggling financially. Swift action is needed to repeal these unfair laws and apply it retroactively to the start of the pandemic.
Tell lawmakers this needs to stop. Ask them to support a repeal of the offset and to amend the bill to make the missed UI benefits retroactive, and to repeal the law prohibiting high school workers from collecting UI benefits.
This is a simple issue of fairness – workers should not be treated differently from other workers simply because they are in high school or receiving Social Security retiree benefits.


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Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation
Minneapolis, MN

To: Governor Tim Walz, MN Senator Eric Pratt, MN Senator Majority Leader, Paul Gazelka
From: Karen Hickey

Dear Governor Walz, Majority Leader Gazelka and Senator Pratt,

​Minnesota is only state in the nation that reduces or eliminates altogether Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits for some laid off workers who either receive, have applied, or intend to apply for Social Security (SS) benefits. Social Security's earned benefits are modest, averaging $1,569 a month in Minnesota. Given the modest nature of this earned benefit, many people need to work and receive Social Security at the same time.

What’s more, many older workers are also not able to return to work due to their age and health risks for COVID. On average, it takes older workers a longer time to find a new job, making these UI benefits even more important. This is unfair. Older workers should not be penalized for receiving the modest Social Security benefits they worked to earn.

Please support a repeal of the Social Security offset (HF 106; Davnie/SF798: Rarick) under Minnesota's Unemployment Insurance program and make the repeal retroactive to help older workers economically during this crisis.