by Ty Tagami | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA — The federal government shut down as of 12:01 a.m., and it could affect the income of about 111,000 Georgia employees.
Many will not get paid, causing an economic loss that could reverberate through communities.
But the Georgia Department of Labor said Friday that the estimated 110,900 federal workers who could be furloughed may be eligible to collect state unemployment benefits.
“Furloughed employees are considered job-attached and are not required to search for work for six weeks,” the agency said.
There is a catch: under a 2019 federal law, the agency notes, furloughed employees will receive back pay when funding is restored. So, any money they collected from the state must be repaid.
The federal government can deduct unemployment benefits from their back pay or reimburse the state directly, so applicants must report gross earnings when requesting payments.
Affected employees can apply online but must show a W2 form or pay stub in person if the federal government fails to report the information to the state, which is common during shutdowns. Applicants can take their documents to any Georgia Dept of Labor Career Center.
