[Each morning during the current government shutdown, I'll highlight a topic or issue that's indirectly (but substantially) impacted by GOP hostage taking.]
With hundreds of thousands of Federal employees on furlough right now, those employees are starting to turn to the states they work in to file for unemployment benefits:
Federal employees who can't work due to a government shutdown that began on Oct. 1 are applying for unemployment benefits in droves. State offices in the mid-Atlantic region -- where much of the federal workforce is located -- reported an immediate surge in applications. It's just one consequence of a shutdown that's also rendered federal websites inoperable and caused some state departments to furlough employees whose jobs are partly dependent on federal funds.
Between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the first day of the shutdown, Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation received roughly 4,000 applications, according to Maureen O'Connor, an agency spokeswoman. That's more federal claim applications than the department usually receives in an entire year, she said.
Alabama unemployment claims up 2,500% since shutdown
Many furloughed government workers are not even yet aware that they're eligible for unemployment insurance compensation, and some states are making furloughed workers wait a week before even allowing them to file:
Arkansas furloughed workers file for unemployment
Bottom line - if you or anyone else you know is furloughed, file today. Depending on the state you live in, your benefits may be tied to the date that you file, not the actual date that you were furloughed. Also, be aware that in most cases, if you receive back pay from your government job after you go back to work, you'll have to repay any unemployment compensation that you receive.
Lastly, don't make the mistake of treating the 1995 government shutdown as your template for dealing with this one. I continue to believe that the GOP has finally committed itself to the issue it has been dancing around since 2008 - total gutting of the government and starting from scratch. The 2nd American Revolution, if you will. There will be no resolution to this issue prior to the debt ceiling collapse on October 17th, and then you'll have the perfect government storm. Even many of those in government on duty right now will be gone.
Again, if you're affected, file your unemployment claim TODAY.