The Times-News reports at least 1,100 furloughed federal workers have applied for unemployment benefits in Idaho since the government partially shutdown Oct. 1.
The Idaho Department of Labor estimates there are more than 11,000 federal workers in the state. We reported last month that Idaho's federal employees are paid roughly $800 million a year.
Labor Department economist Jan Roeser told the Times-News, “You’re not going to see every federal employee claim unemployment insurance.”
Roeser says if furloughed federal workers receive back pay, they'll have to return the unemployment money. "It’s going to be a hassle,” she said.
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