Furloughed Federal Workers Struggle Amid Government Shutdown

Sat Nov 01 2025 22:08:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As the government shutdown continues, furloughed federal workers face challenges in accessing unemployment benefits while managing their families' essential expenses.

Imelda Avila-Thomas, a furloughed federal worker, is among thousands struggling to access unemployment aid during the ongoing government shutdown. With financial pressures mounting, Avila-Thomas faces difficulties verifying her wages and fears resource limitations due to the furlough. The variability in unemployment benefits across states exacerbates the situation, leaving many workers uncertain about their financial futures while they await the end of the shutdown.

For over two weeks, Imelda Avila-Thomas, a furloughed federal worker at the Department of Labor in San Antonio, has been unable to secure unemployment compensation to help her family meet essential expenses during the government shutdown.

Despite following the right steps to provide documentation, she remains ineligible for benefits due to issues verifying her wages. I wonder if someone who might help me has also been furloughed, she reflects.

Avila-Thomas is part of the more than 670,000 federal workers affected by the shutdown, with approximately 26,000 applying for initial unemployment claims between late September and mid-October.

The unemployment system's complexities compound the struggles for Avila-Thomas and her family, who have resorted to food banks and cut back on essential services.

Access to unemployment benefits varies by state, adding further uncertainty for workers like Avila-Thomas. With states issuing payments based on their regulations, many are left anxious about their financial future amidst the ongoing disruption.

As federal employees aim to navigate the unemployment landscape, many, including Avila-Thomas, are eager for the government to reopen and return to work.