Unemployment insurance (UI) information pertaining to federal workers affected by the federal government shutdown:
Q: I am a federal worker who has been furloughed. Am I eligible for unemployment?
Yes. You are considered laid off due to lack of work and you need to meet personal and monetary eligibility. However, as a federal employee, you also need to be aware of a potential unintended consequence of applying for unemployment insurance benefits.
If the federal government compensates you or back pays you for the work you missed during the furlough (as it has historically), you will be required to disclose your payment information to the department and repay any UI benefits you collect during that time.
Before you apply, note that you will not receive your first UI payment for approximately three weeks after you file for benefits.
If you have questions about the claim process, please call the claim center at 208-332-8942 or talk to a navigator at your nearest local office.
Q: What if I am one of the federal workers who are required to continue to work full time without pay?
You would not be eligible for benefits if you are working full time, regardless of pay. Full time is normally defined as 40 hours per week.
If you decide to apply for unemployment insurance benefits, please read the following:
Q: How do I file for benefits?
You must file online at labor.idaho.gov/claimantportal. If you do not have internet access or need help filing online, you may file at your nearest local Idaho Department of Labor office. Click here to see a list of our local offices.
After you successfully file your initial claim, you need to file weekly certifications at labor.idaho.gov/claimantportal. Check out these helpful instructions on how to file for benefits and what to expect.
Q: When should I file for benefits?
Your claim should be filed in the week (Sunday through Saturday) that you do not work full time (40 hours). Find more information by checking out the when to file a claim section of the FAQ page or our printable how to file flyer.
Q: What if I don’t have a computer or internet access?
We have computers available in all our local offices.
Q: What information do I need to file?
You will need:
- Your work history information for the past two years including employer names, addresses, phone numbers, supervisors and dates of employment
- Your current contact information
- Your driver’s license or state ID number and work authorization information, if applicable
- Bank account information if you choose direct deposit to receive your payments
- SF-8 Notice to Federal Employees About Unemployment Insurance
- SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action (Provides last Duty Station and Salary)
- W-2 or paystub for proof of wages
- Copies of your leave and earning statements may be necessary, so ensure you have these for the past two years; print copies of these documents, if available
Q: When I file my claim, what should I choose as my reason for separation from the federal government?
If you are unemployed due to the current federal government shutdown, please select “laid off due to lack of work” for your separation reason.
Q: I received a letter titled “monetary determination.” It shows my weekly eligibility amount is $ .00 and my maximum benefit amount is $ .00. Does this mean I will not receive any unemployment while I am furloughed?
If you are a federal employee, your wages are not immediately available to us when you file your claim. We must request your wage information from the federal government. When you file a claim, you will be sent a letter called a monetary determination stating you are eligible for $0 with an explanation there are wages pending from the federal government. Once we receive wage information, we will send you a second monetary determination with the wage information they reported to us. Despite the federal shutdown, we are getting responses to wage requests. However, please have your pay and earning statements available in case federal agencies do not respond.
It is important you continue filing your weekly certifications at labor.idaho.gov/claimantportal, while you wait for your new monetary determination. If you file your weekly certifications and are otherwise eligible, you will receive payments for compensable weeks (excluding unpaid waiting week) filed once we receive your wage information. It can take up to three weeks to receive your wage information. If your monetary determination did not state that federal wages are pending, please call us at 208-332-8942.
Q: Are UI benefits taxable?
Yes. Unemployment benefits are treated as taxable income. After you file your claim, you will have the option to have either 10% or 0% federal taxes withheld from your payment. Log in to the claimant portal at labor.idaho.gov/claimantportal and select the Account tab, then choose “Change Tax Withholding” to decide if federal taxes are withheld from your payment. If you must repay benefits, you will have to repay the gross amount, as we are unable to recoup the 10% for you. You will receive a 1099G at the end of the year with your tax information.
Q: I am about to be furloughed. I was given the option of using my accrued vacation pay while we are shut down. Can I still collect unemployment if I don’t use my vacation pay?
Yes. For unemployment insurance purposes, you are not required to use vacation pay.
Q: If I chose to use vacation pay, can I collect unemployment insurance?
It depends on how much you are paid in vacation leave. If your vacation pay is an amount that is one and a half times your unemployment insurance weekly benefit amount, it is not a compensable week — meaning you received too much money for an unemployment insurance payment or waiting week credit that week. To be eligible for benefits, you also must be fully available for work. It is important that you remain available for work and express your availability for work to your employer, even though you have elected for paid vacation.
Q: Once the shutdown is over, if the federal government back pays me for my time away from work, should I report it? If so, how should I report my income?
Yes, any pay received for weeks in which you filed weekly certifications will need to be reported. If you receive back pay, call us at 208-332-8942 and let us know.
Q: If I receive back pay from the federal government, do I have to repay benefits?
Yes. For unemployment insurance purposes, any back pay you receive from the federal government is reportable income for the weeks you are furloughed and will result in an overpayment of benefits. Please be aware that unpaid overpayments accrue interest of about 11% after 30 days from the overpayment establishment. If you have an outstanding overpayment balance, the department will seize your state tax refund, potentially delaying your refund. If your overpayment balance exceeds $350, you must contact UI Compliance at 208-332-3573 to set up a repayment agreement that does not exceed three months to avoid a lien being filed against you.
Q: How do I cancel my claim once I return to work?
When you return to work, simply stop filing your weekly certifications. Once you haven’t filed for two consecutive weeks, your claim will go inactive. Even though you are no longer claiming, be sure to keep your contact information up to date to receive year-end tax information. If you become unemployed again, you must reopen your claim at labor.idaho.gov/claimantportal during the first week you become unemployed or underemployed. You are required to reopen your claim to submit your weekly certifications.
Learn more about U.S. Department of Labor unemployment compensation for federal workers who have been furloughed.
Idaho Department of Labor