Showing posts with label unemployment federal. Show all posts

January 4, 2019

2019 Veterans Field Guide to Federal Government Shutdown

2019 Veterans Field Guide to Federal Government Shutdown:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/03/us/politics/federal-workers-government-shutdown.html

This includes services NOT impacted and services that ARE impacted.

January 3, 2019

More Shutdown News January 2019

How Does a Shutdown End if an Agreement is Never Reached?

So right now, as of 3rd January 2019, the US government is shut down, due to disagreements between President & Congress on border security funding. Both sides are in an apparent stalemate. So my question is simply, what happens if neither side backs down? Does the shut-down just go on indefinitely? How does this end?

Answer:

If necessary, Congress can pass a spending bill without the president's support. Currently Trump claims he will veto any bill which doesn't include funding for the wall. However if two-thirds of each chamber of Congress agree, they can override a presidential veto & end the shutdown. The current Senate has already passed a spending bill without funding for Trump's wall once with a veto-proof majority of 100-0. Instead of voting on that bill though, the Republican-lead House of Representatives voted on a different bill with wall funding that was sure to fail in the Senate. The Senate won't change much in the next Congress, but the House of Representatives will have new leadership & can try to pass a similar bill to what has previously passed the Senate. If the Senate votes similarly & the House gets enough votes they can end the shutdown with or without Trump.

Answer:

The government shutdown is caused by a lapse in funding for government operations & agencies.
The Antideficiency Act mandates that the government can't incur "obligations or the making of expenditures (outlays) in excess of amounts available in appropriations or funds". As explained by The Hill, this act "provides the framework for which government functions temporarily cease & how employees are impacted". Thus, the only way to end a government shutdown is to pass appropriations legislation. This can be in the form of a regular appropriations bill (a yearly budget) or a continuing resolution (CR; a short-term funding bill). Without any appropriations legislation passed, the shutdown will continue indefinitely. Currently, both parties are looking to pass a continuing resolution. However, since there was no agreement on the amount of funding to provide for border security, the Senate passed a CR which doesn't include funding for border security while the House passed a CR which includes $5.7 billion for border security. Since there was no agreement between the Senate & the House, the government shutdown continues to date.

how-does-a-shutdown-end-if-an-agreement-is-never-reached

Some BLM parks in Las Cruces, New Mexico area open, some closed during shutdown:

https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/2019/01/02/some-blm-parks-las-cruces-area-open-some-closed-during-shutdown/2468018002

Despite Huge Backlogs, The Government Shutdown Halts Most Immigration Court Hearings:

http://www.kut.org/post/despite-huge-backlogs-government-shutdown-halts-most-immigration-court-hearings

White House Supports Back Pay When Shutdown Ends:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/white-house-supports-back-pay-when-shutdown-ends-after-saying-most-furloughed-workers-are-democrats

National Mall Scene - Monuments during Shutdown:

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/god-people-national-mall-scene-symbol-shutdowns-impact/story?id=60118435

Federal workers won't see a check until Jan. 25 at the earliest:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/government-shutdown-pay-federal-workers-likely-wont-see-cash-until-jan-25-regardless-of-negotiations

The Government Shutdown Won’t Solve the Immigration Crisis:

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/the-government-shutdown-wont-solve-the-immigration-crisis

Impact of the Government Shutdown on General Aviation:

https://nbaa.org/aircraft-operations/the-government-shutdown-and-business-aviation/impact-of-the-government-shutdown-on-general-aviation

Shutdown Update - 1/3/19

Today on 1/3/19 the following news is out on the status of the Federal Government Shutdown:

http://fortune.com/2019/01/03/shutdown-irs-tax-refund

Government Shutdown Could Delay Tax Refunds:

https://turnto10.com/news/local/government-shutdown-could-delay-tax-refunds

Democrats Announce Plan to Reopen Government Including Pay Raise for Feds:

https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2019/01/democrats-announce-plan-reopen-government-including-pay-raise-feds/153872

How the Shutdown is Reaching a Breaking Point:

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/01/how-the-shutdown-is-reaching-a-breaking-point-1053885

Furloughed Federal Employees Guide to Filing for Unemployment during the Shutdown:

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/government-shutdown/2019/01/a-furloughed-federal-employees-guide-to-filing-for-unemployment-during-the-shutdown

Government Shutdown Day 13:

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/03/government-shutdown-day-13-1078290

Shutdown Halts E-Verify Checks:

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/423613-shutdown-halts-e-verify-checks-on-capitol-hill

States Most Affected by the Shutdown:

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/03/these-states-are-most-affected-by-the-government-shutdown-study-finds.html

How the Government Shutdown Impacts You:

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2019-01-02/heres-how-the-government-shutdown-impacts-you

How the Government Shutdown Affects Health Programs:

https://khn.org/news/how-the-government-shutdown-affects-health-programs

Fannie Mae Releases New Policies for Originations During Government Shutdown:

https://www.housingwire.com/articles/47823-fannie-mae-releases-new-policies-for-originations-during-government-shutdown

Shutdown by the Numbers:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/03/politics/shutdown-by-the-numbers/index.html

Government Shutdown - National Parks:

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/01/government-shutdown-ftc-national-parks.html

Latest White House Meeting on Shutdown Resolves Nothing:

http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/01/latest-white-house-meeting-on-shutdown-resolves-nothing.html

October 11, 2013

For Furloughed Federal Employees, No Paid Sick or Annual Leave

Fed Smith has an in-depth article worthy of a read published 10-10-13:

"No Paid Sick or Annual Leave. What About FMLA Leave for Excepted Employees?"

A link to this article is found below.

http://www.fedsmith.com/2013/10/10/no-paid-sick-or-annual-leave-what-about-fmla-leave-for-excepted-employees

October 9, 2013

Back Pay Bill in Senate Limbo

GovExec has an article "Back Pay Bill in Senate Limbo".
A link to this article can be found below.

http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/10/back-pay-bill-senate-limbo/71531/?oref=dropdown

Furloughed Government Employees Are Selling Their Possessions On Craigslist For Cash

BuzzFeed Politics has an article with humor and pictures: "

Furloughed Government Employees Are Selling Their Possessions On Craigslist For Cash"

Below is the link to this article, which offers some humor in this furlough situation.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/furloghed-government-employees-are-selling-their-possessions

Federal Workers Get 60 Percent Check on Friday

The Statesman Journal has an article "Federal Workers Get 60 Percent Check on Friday".
Below is a link to this article:

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20131008/UPDATE/131008019/Federal-workers-get-60-percent-check-Friday

Whats Happened to the Retroactive Pay Legislation?

Fed Smith has an article "Whats Happened to the Retroactive Pay Legislation?"

Below is a link to this article.

http://www.fedsmith.com/2013/10/09/whats-happened-to-the-retroactive-pay-legislation/

October 8, 2013

Obama to Boehner: No talks until government opens

Obama to Boehner: No talks until government opens

Click below for the 10-8-13 article:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BUDGET_BATTLE?SITE=MOSTP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-10-08-13-13-34

Republicans May Tie Federal Paychecks To Shutdown Negotiations

Click below for the 10-7-13 article:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/johnstanton/republicans-may-tie-federal-paychecks-to-shutdown-negotiatio

October 1, 2013

Images: How Furloughed Employees Might Be Feeling Like Right Now

Federal Employees: Update Your Resume - Shutdown

For Federal Employees who were just furloughed because of the federal government shutdown, this would be a very good time to update your resume.

I suggest filing for unemployment, then updating your resume, and also:

update your list of references.

Another thing - try to get letters of recommendation to add to your personal files.
Oftentimes in our federal careers, we work with people and they move on, and we should have gotten letters of recommendation from them.
If that isn't possible, see if they would allow you to use them as a reference.
Ask for their new address and contact information at their new position/agency/office.

Whenever using others as references, its advisable to give them notice that you're seeking work and that they may be called asking for them as references to you.

FedSmith.com has lots of articles about searching for federal jobs, and here is one link to a post there about itfalls you should avoid when creating a federal resume:

http://www.fedsmith.com/2012/01/18/avoid-these-top-common-pitfalls-your

FederalDaiy.com has articles too.

It offers FederalSoup.com, a discussion forum for active and retired federal employees to discuss current news, etc.

https://federalsoup.federaldaily.com

We are Shut Down! List of Things Federal Employees Might Want to Do

Reported to work this morning at the federal agency I work for.
We had a brief meeting about the Shutdown, did a few things to close out and now we are officially shut down.

Returned home & am now making list of things I need to accomplish.

Considering the facts that we have no idea when we will be recalled back to work,
that we have no guarantee that we will be paid for the time we are furloughed,
and that the bills still come in and must be paid, here are things federal employees who are furloughed from the Shutdown can consider doing now:

1) Make list of things you'd like to accomplish during the Shutdown

2) Revise/Update/Make a Budget considering your non-pay current status

3) If you need to take a loan, you can get a 2% interest loan against your federal TSP (Thrift Savings Plan).
Go to the TSP website and print the forms, fill out loan application forms and sign them in presence of notary and have notary sign them.

Here is link to the TSP website where the loan forms and loan publications are found:

https://www.tsp.gov/forms/loans.shtml

4) If conserving money is an important issue for you, consider cutting back expenses.
I called Optimum (now Charter) today and was able to lower my cable tv/internet/land phone triple package cost from $135.96 a month to $94.85 a month.

Expenses you could cut & Ways to Make Some Extra Cash:

1) Food - cut back or eliminate eating out

2) Food - Eat more meatless meals & eliminate luxury foods i.e. expensive foods.

3) Use coupons and rebates for purchases.

4) Buy items in bulk which in long run is cheaper than running to store every week.
I go to Big Lots in a city south of here, and stock up on food (they carry lots of bulk, cheap food), toiletries, etc.
I buy toilet paper, paper towells, cleaning supplies, etc. in bulk.
I stock up there on packaged milk which is sterilized in waxed paper rectangle-shaped box containers. The milk doesn't need to be refrigerated until opened.

5) Shop for cheapest gas before refueling your vehicle.
Gas Buddy is a website where you can enter your zipcode and find the cheapest places to get gas:

http://gasbuddy.com

6) Cut back on home utility expenses. Keep thermostat less hot/cool, use a/c less, close off rooms and heat/cool fewer rooms. Use those twisty shaped lightbulbs that save energy to lower your electric bill. Insulate your home, windows, etc. better to conserve energy. Conserve use of water to lower water bill.

7) Have a yard sale or put items for sale in a consignment shop to get some extra cash.

8) If you have marketable skills you can make money at immediately, consider using those skills to earn money and work for yourself. Such skills that could be used temporarily would be selling arts & crafts items you make, providing childcare/babysitting services, etc.

9) If you itemize your taxes, and don't want to have a yardsale, etc. you could give donations of items to Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc. and ask for receipt to use to lower your taxes when you itemize your taxes.

10) If your spouse isn't working and is capable of working, perhaps they could find part-time or full-time work during the Shutdown to supplement your income, since you now don't have an income.

11) As soon as possible, file an unemployment claim. You can file online. Here is link for Federal Employee information about filing for unemployment (the Department of Labor):

http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/unemcomp.asp

State laws vary, but most require a one to two-week waiting period before you begin receiving unemployment checks. A waiting period does not mean you must wait one or two weeks to file. You should file immediately.

Here is the link to locate your state employment website to file for in your state:

http://www.servicelocator.org/OWSLinks.asp

I just filed for unemployment online at my state's website and it took me about 10 minutes to file.

September 30, 2013

Hot News Links

Hot News