The 51-year-old’s finances are still recovering from the hit they took more than a decade ago, after she spent about eight years caring for her ailing father. She also deferred payments on her student loans, forced to let the interest build up. But that leave isn’t paid. This year, Minnesota and Maine became the latest of 13 states, along with the District of Columbia, to offer paid caregiving leave. The programs cover all eligible workers and are financed either by workers alone, or workers and employers.

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Persons: Tara, it’s, Driver, she’d, isn’t, caregiving Organizations: District of Columbia, Lawmakers Locations: Minnesota, Maine, Illinois , Michigan, Pennsylvania