Furloughed federal workers in Tennessee could qualify for unemployment benefits. However, if they are provided with back pay when the government reopens, they will have to repay any benefits they receive.
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce (TDLWD) said 25,000 Tennesseans are being affected by the partial government shutdown.
The TDLWD manages the federally funded unemployment insurance program. A spokesperson said the state received its appropriation for the program before the shutdown began and unemployed Tennesseans are still receiving benefits.
Furloughed workers currently meet the U.S. Department of Labor’s requirements to receive unemployment benefits because they are free to work.