State Resources for Shutdown-Impacted Federal Employees and Contractors

Resources Last Updated: 11/14/2025

As the federal budget impasse continues, thousands of workers are missing their paychecks through no fault of their own. This situation is stressful for federal employees and their families, who rely on this pay to meet their everyday needs. The pain extends to the employees of federal contractors and their families. Unemployment compensation is available. Claimants must apply for unemployment insurance benefits in their state. A federal employee’s last official duty station determines the state in which the employee may submit an unemployment insurance application. Benefit amounts and duration vary by state.

Who Qualifies

Furloughed employees who are prevented from working may qualify for benefits but must repay them after they receive backpay (if and when their jobs resume after the government shutdown). As an example, furloughed federal employees receive unemployment benefits as a loan that must be repaid once backpay arrives.

Employees of federal contractors may be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits when they cease work. If you receive a W-2, you are an employee.

Who Does Not Qualify

“Essential” or “excepted” employees who must keep working do not qualify for unemployment benefits. Legislation to address employees in this situation has been proposed.

Independent contractors may not qualify either. If you receive an IRS Form-1099 reporting your earnings, you are probably an independent contractor.

Recommendations

If you are not sure whether you qualify for unemployment benefits, go ahead and apply. If denied, you can still appeal.
Consult your labor union for information during any major employment event.

Food Assistance

Resources for local food and other assistance for federal workers may be available through the AFL-CIO Community Partnerships and United Way: Government Shutdown Resources. You may dial 2-1-1 or visit: 211.org for more information.

If you wish to make a donation to support federal worker assistance, please visit the Federal Worker Solidarity Fund for the DC Region. Contact your local central labor council or area labor federation for local donation options. For more information, please send a message to the AFL-CIO United Way Worldwide Partnership Director Kristie Small at: [email protected].

State-by-State Resources

Unemployment Benefits Finder (Search by State)

Alabama

Alabama Department of Workforce Unemployment Insurance Program
- Claimant Portal

Alaska

Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- Alaska Unemployment Insurance General Information
Food Bank for Federal Workers Impacted by the Government Shutdown
Pick-Up Available from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
IBEW Local 1547 Union Hall, 3333 Denali St. #200, Anchorage, AK (Buzz In)
Contact: [email protected]; 907-830-7097

Arizona

Arizona Department of Economic Security
- Apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI) Benefits
- Job Seekers: This site has information on general employment services, veterans programs and more.
Arizona AFL-CIO is accepting donations to support federal workers. UFCW Local 99 kicked off the support drive with a $20,000 donation.

Arkansas

Arkansas Unemployment Insurance Claims

California

California Employment Development Department
- Unemployment Benefits
- Job Services

Colorado

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE)
- Resources for Federal Workers
  - Filing Your Claim
  - Reemployment Support from CDLE: This page includes information about Colorado’s Workforce Centers, which provide services such as job listings, computer and internet access, career counseling, and training for job seekers.
- Help After Job Loss: Colorado Rapid Response

Connecticut

Connecticut Department of Labor: Unemployment Information for Federal Employees and Contractors
Connecticut Department of Labor: American Jobs Centers: These centers provide job search assistance and support.

Delaware

District of Columbia

DC Department of Employment Services: Unemployment Compensation for Former Federal Employees
Impact to Federal Workers: This new website is intended to support federal workers.
Office of Unemployment Compensation: This resource provides federal employees with information about unemployment compensation, support for efforts to find new employment, information about employees’ rights as federal employees and job opportunities in the D.C. government.
Federal Worker Solidarity Fund for the DC Region
United States Senate Federal Credit Union’s Government Shutdown Relief Loan Program

Florida

Apply for Benefits

Georgia

Georgia Department of Labor
- Unemployment Claims for Federal Employees
- Job Search Assistance

Hawaii

Unemployment Benefits—Apply Now
Operation Hire Hawai’i: This site provides information about “opportunities for individuals impacted by layoffs, resignations, loss of federal funding and other interested job seekers.”
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations: Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) flyer
Hawaii State AFL-CIO, in partnership with the Hawaii Foodbank, is hosting a drive-thru food distribution on Nov 8 to support federal employees affected by the government shutdown, as well as union members experiencing financial hardship. Donations are accepted here.

Idaho

How to Apply for Benefits

Illinois

Indiana

Indiana Unemployment

Iowa

Apply for Unemployment Benefits

Kansas

Unemployment Insurance Division

Kentucky

Unemployment Services

Louisiana

Unemployment Insurance
United Way of Northeast Louisiana—Furloughed Federal Employee Assistance
- Providing grocery gift card assistance for furloughed federal employees through United Way's Food for Our Friends initiative. Donations accepted here.

Maine

Maine Department of Labor: Federal Worker Unemployment Insurance FAQ
Maine Government Shutdown Loan Guarantee Program/FAME. This site has information on participating financial institutions.
Food and Medicine’s Solidarity Harvest to fund Thanksgiving meals for union families and others who have fallen on hard times

Maryland

Maryland Public Servants Resource Website: This site contains information about how to apply for unemployment insurance benefits, conduct a job search, obtain career support, address health coverage needs, find information about legal resources, and learn more about federal employee rights as well as county-specific programs and resources for federal workers and contractors who have been laid off.
- Maryland Department of Labor: Federal Employees: Frequently Asked Questions About Unemployment Insurance
- Montgomery County, MD: Resources for Workers Impacted by Recent Federal Government Actions: This page includes resources on employment and career support; food, child care and housing; crisis intervention, health and insurance; federal and state officials’ resources; and municipality resources.
- Charles County, MD: Government Transition Resources: This page provides information about job search and career support; entrepreneurship and startup support; unemployment insurance; health care benefits; assistance with food, cash, medical expenses and energy bills; transportation; family and child care resources; and low-income housing options and resources for persons at risk of homelessness.
- Frederick County, MD: Assistance During the Federal Shutdown: This page includes resources related to food, medical, utilities, employment and financial assistance.

Massachusetts

Department of Unemployment Assistance, Unemployment Insurance Eligibility

Michigan

Unemployment Insurance Agency Claimant Roadmap

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

How to File for Unemployment
Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE)—FAQs
IAM and AFGE, with the support of the United Way, are planning to host a Thanksgiving drop-off/distribution event. St. Louis Labor and UW Food Distributions and Emergency Fund. Distribution day is Sunday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Montana

Nebraska

Unemployment: Frequently Asked Questions

Nevada

Nevada Unemployment Insurance (NUI)
ULAN, the United Labor Agency of Nevada, is supporting an emergency food distribution open to the public Nov. 9 at UNITE HERE Culinary Union. The food drive will help feed 1,000-plus families affected by the SNAP cutoffs and furloughed workers who also need assistance. ULAN also accepts donations here.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Employment Security
- Applying for New Hampshire Unemployment Benefits

New Jersey

New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- Division of Unemployment Insurance: Federal Employees or Former Military Members

New Mexico

New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions—Federal Worker Resources: This page provides information about available jobs, job search resources, unemployment insurance and upcoming recruitment events.

New York