Federal workers can collect unemployment during shutdown

[dkf]

Federal workers who lose pay during the government shutdown can fall back on unemployment benefits in most states.

But the money comes with a catch. If Congress decides later to retroactively pay those workers, they would have inadvertently double-dipped into the system and will be asked to return the money.

It's not clear whether furloughed workers will eventually receive paychecks or not, once the shutdown ends. But that's how it played out during the government shutdown in 1995 and 1996, after which, state agencies tried to recoup the overpaid funds.

Now, on day one of the latest shutdown, states with large numbers of federal employees like Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania have already posted advisories on their sites, indicating they plan to ask for the funds back, in the event that they overpay unemployment benefits to federal workers.

"If you receive back pay from your agency to cover the furlough period, you must repay any unemployment benefits you received for that time," the Virginia Employment Commission said in a Q&A on its site.

http://money.cnn.com/2013/10/01/news/economy/shutdown-federal-unemployment-benefits/index.html

[mucifer]

1. The ones who were sent home can. The ones who are currently working for free can't

I have a friend working for social security in an "essential" job. She says they are not being paid during the shutdown and they can't apply for unemployment and they might not get back pay.

[Duckhunter935]

2. They will get back pay

If they worked.

[mucifer]

3. That's what they are hoping for. But, they are paid by the government and it's a government decision

They are unionized so the unions will fight for them to get their pay. It's uncertain also when they would get the backpay. It's all very stressful.