How a government shutdown could affect you

WHAT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN MEANS FOR FEDERAL WORKERS With more than 2 million workers, the federal government is the nation’s largest employer. Roughly a quarter of those employees are 55

and older, _Politico_ reported. That means that many older workers — and the people who rely on the services they provide — would be affected by the government shutdown.  During a shutdown,

many — but not all — of those millions of workers would be furloughed, meaning they keep their jobs but are not allowed to work and won’t receive pay. During the partial government shutdown

in 2018-2019, roughly 800,000 federal civilian employees were furloughed, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The federal employees who continue to work during a shutdown are

called essential workers because they are considered vital to national security (the military and embassies), the safety of people and property (air traffic control, border control, food

safety), and programs with multiyear funding (Social Security, Medicare, veterans benefits). Still, because fewer federal employees overall would be working during a shutdown, there could be

delays in customer service and support. Each federal agency has its own plan for how many of its total workers and which positions in particular will be furloughed. Essential employees who

are not furloughed still must go to work daily and do their job. But, like furloughed workers, these employees generally don’t get paid until Congress and the president approve the funding

for their agency. Once funding legislation is passed, both essential workers and furloughed employees typically receive back pay for pay periods missed during the shutdown. Federal contract

workers usually do not receive back pay if they were idled. During the shutdown, furloughed workers can apply for unemployment from their state agency and collect those benefits if they

qualify. However, the unemployment benefits typically would have to be repaid once the furloughed employee returns to work and receives back pay.