RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) – The North Carolina Division of Employment Security reports that it is now processing about 20 claims a day related to the federal shutdown — a number usually seen over the course of an entire month.
As the extended shutdown continues, some federal workers are resigning from their jobs, while others are left struggling to make ends meet.
Heather Hughes, who has worked for the Social Security Administration for 26 years and serves as the President of the SFGE Local 3509, is still reporting to work but doing so without pay. She explained how tight finances have become.
“Obviously, money’s tight,” Hughes said. “Our savings are dwindling. We’re using credit cards to pay for monthly and weekly things.”
Hughes shared that her mortgage company and car lender have been accommodating during the shutdown, but she and some colleagues have been exploring short-term loans to cover other expenses.
“The first thing you’ll see on the website is, ‘Due to overwhelming demands, it might be three or four days before you hear from anybody on your loan application.’ So that tells you that lots of people are trying to get loans,” Hughes explained.
The federal shutdown is also impacting travelers at airports, with air traffic controllers working without pay. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported increased staffing shortages across the system.
Dan McCabe, NATCO Southern Regional Vice President and the regional union leader covering RDU Airport, told ABC11 News that operations at RDU have been running fairly smoothly — but that situation could change at any time.
“Every day that this stretches out, you’re getting closer and closer to somebody’s individual breaking point. What does that mean? Do they have to go find outside employment? Do they have to stop going to work for the FAA and take care of a child that they can no longer afford childcare for?” McCabe said. “It is just so unfortunate. They deserve so much more than what they’re dealing with now.”
According to the Division of Employment Security, more than 450 federal workers have already filed for financial assistance, and many others are reaching out via a hotline established in April.
“We’ve been getting about 200 hits a day on that. That spiked over 300% from this past Monday alone,” said Antwon Keith, Assistant Secretary of the North Carolina Division of Employment Security. “I hope that it ends soon. It’s just a really tragic time in our society, as far as this shutdown.”
https://abc11.com/post/government-shutdown-nc-unemployment-claims-spike-during-federal/18091663/
