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Direct Support Workers PCA Choice 2020 Stipend

Background and benefits available

As of Friday, March 29, 2024, workers can qualify for a one-time PCA Choice 2020 stipend of up to $1,000 if they meet all the following requirements:

  • Provided services to at least one person through PCA Choice between December 1, 2020 and February 7, 2021.
  • Any increase in wages the worker received at that time was worth less than $0.29 per hour during the time period from December 1, 2020, and February 7, 2021, whether paid through a change in hourly wages or a lump-sum payment.
  • Apply during the open application time period of Friday, March 29, 2024 and Friday, June 21, 2024.

The amount of the stipend will be calculated after all applications have been received. The stipend amount will be based on:

  • The total number of hours of service provided through PCA Choice from December 1, 2020, to February 7, 2021, by all applicants. The total number or hours for each applicant is limited to 400 hours.
  • The total number of applications received.

If workers are approved for a PCA Choice 2020 stipend, workers will receive a confirmation email indicating the number of hours reported by their provider agency(s) from December 1, 2020, to February 7, 2021. The number of hours will be a maximum of 400 hours. After the application deadline of Friday, June 21, 2024, workers will receive a separate email with the amount of their stipend by Friday, July 19, 2024.

A total of $1,400,000 in funding is available to award workers a one-time PCA Choice 2020 stipend of up to $1,000 after the Friday, June 21, 2024 application deadline.

How to apply

Apply by completing the following application.

Requirements

Did you provide services to at least one person through PCA Choice during the pay periods between December 1, 2020, and February 7, 2021 *
Select the personal assistance services you provide. Select all that apply. *
The next question will ask whether you received a wage increase of at least $0.29 per hour compared to your normal wage rate for hours worked between December 1, 2020, and February 7, 2021.

Your increased wages could have been received either through an increase in your hourly wage rate or through a lump-sum payment. Payments would have been received in pay periods during or following the December 1, 2020 – February 7, 2021 time period.

To calculate the value of your increased wages, compare your wage rate before December 1, 2020 to the wage rate for hours worked during the December 1, 2020 - February 7, 2021 time period. Decide whether the increased wage rate was at least $0.29 more than your normal wage rate.

If you do not know how to answer this question or calculate your wage rate, contact your provider agency.
Was your increased wage received through an increase in your normal wage rate or through a lump-sum payment during or following the December 1, 2020 – February 7, 2021 time period? *
Was the increased wage you received through an increase in your normal wage rate at least $0.29 per hour more than your normal wage rate? *
Since you received a lump sum payment, divide the gross lump-sum payment (before any deductions for taxes, etc.) by the total number of hours worked between December 1, 2020, and February 7, 2021. Decide whether that hourly rate is at least $0.29 an hour.
After dividing the gross lump-sum payment (before any deductions for taxes, etc.) by the total number of hours worked between December 1, 2020, and February 7, 2021, was the lump-sum payment you received at least $0.29 per hour more than your normal wage rate? *