Most furloughed workers are eligible for unemployment benefits but will be required to return the money to the government when they receive back pay after the shutdown ends, according to the Associated Press. Federal employees who are working without pay are not eligible for aid.
Some federal workers, who missed their first paycheck on Friday, have set up GoFundMe accounts and sold off belongings to make ends meet during the shutdown.
Meanwhile, a Morning Consult poll released Wednesday by Politico found that only 25 percent of voters say the shutdown has had “a lot” or “some” impact on them or their family. Conversely, two-thirds of voters say the shutdown has had little effect, with 26 percent saying it has had “not much” impact on them and 40 percent saying it has had no impact at all.
Article Appeared @https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2019-01-17/more-federal-workers-seek-unemployment-as-americans-shrug-at-shutdown