Pandemic frontline workers payments start

State officials planned to start sending checks Oct. 5 to more than 1 million pandemic frontline workers in industries including food service, education, health care, long-term care, and first responders. Each worker who was approved will receive a one-time payment of $487.45 from the state, either as a direct deposit in the next 10 days or prepaid debit card in the mail over the next few weeks.