Will Furloughed Federal Workers Try to Get Paid Twice?

MacIver News Service | October 18, 2013

[Madison, Wisc…] Unemployment claims in Wisconsin jumped almost 2000 percent during the first week of the federal government shutdown.

During the first week, 1,121 people filed for new benefits in Wisconsin. The week before it was 57, and the week before that it was 18.

The Department of Workforce Development has not responded to requests from the MacIver News Service about how many of the new claims were furloughed federal workers, but the department says they were eligible.

Congress voted to grant back pay to federal workers in the deal that ended the shutdown. Federal workers should see that back pay in their next paycheck.

Some news sites on Friday from around the country were reporting federal employees who received unemployment benefits during the shutdown are required to pay them back.