How long will the government closure last? History provides clues
The US faces the possibility of a closure. Previous closures lasted from a few days to a month.
Congress and President Donald Trump have the time and even fewer options to reach a funding agreement to avoid causing partial government shutdowns.
In the event of a shutdown, government functions, which are deemed as unnecessarily necessary, like national parks, will close or reduce staffing, but critical government services such as military and law enforcement will continue to work.
Here’s what federal government employees should know about applying for unemployment benefits during government closures:
What does it mean and what does it mean?
Mandatory Houlaf is, according to the Human Resources Administration (OPM), “positioning employees in temporary, non-payment, non-payment status due to lack of work, funds, or other non-interdisciplinary reasons.” If the agency does not have sufficient funds, as if the government was shut down, a “closure” occurs, and employees are suspended from work by “exceptions” or essentially unclassified employees.
Technically, the affected federal workers are still employed, but depending on the state’s unemployment rules, they may be able to get temporary jobs elsewhere during their holidays.
Do FURLOUGHED federal workers qualify for unemployment?
If an agency within the US government begins to close, some government workers may qualify for the unemployment rate for federal employees (UCFEs) who follow the same rules as state unemployment benefits. To find state contact information, visit http://www.servicelocator.org.
Employees may need to provide proof of wages, such as revenue or resignation, or may need to form an SF-50 and may be asked to provide the SF-8 format.
Most states pay regular benefits up to 26 weeks. The maximum unemployment benefits are determined by state law.
Usually, benefits begin to be paid 14-21 days after the request is filed.
Do “Exception” or “Required” employees qualify for unemployment?
Employees designated as “exception” or “essential” are not eligible for unemployment benefits unless their employment is affected by expenditure breaks, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget.
According to the Human Resources Administration, this category often includes military personnel, law enforcement, transportation safety personnel, emergency services, emergency services, medical staff, power assistant officers, social security professionals, Medicare employees and service workers in the United States.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter. Contact her at mdelrey@usatoday.com.
