A press release issued by the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) Wednesday indicated that federal employees who have been furloughed due to the ongoing government shutdown are eligible for unemployment benefits.

Furloughed workers must meet state eligibility requirements found in the Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.

Assuming they meet the criteria, furloughed workers in Alabama will be eligible for a minimum of $45 a week or a maximum of $265 per week.

Benefits are paid for up to 26 weeks.

“There are thousands of federal employees in Alabama who are expected to be impacted by this shutdown,” said ADOL Secretary Fitzgerald Washington. “Should these workers need assistance during this time, I would encourage them to apply for unemployment compensation benefits.”

There are more than 53,000 federal employees in Alabama, according to data from November of 2018.

Since the beginning of the government shutdown, which started Dec. 22, ADOL has received more than 240 applications for unemployment compensation benefits from federal workers.

Some of these applicants fell victim to the ongoing government shutdown while others were laid off for separate reasons.

Applicants will need to provide verification of their wages – ADOL may not be able to confirm wages with departments impacted by the government shutdown – via W- tax forms or pay stubs.

In the event that a federal employee receives back pay, they will be required to pay back any benefits received from ADOL.

Payment plans can be made by contacting the agency.

To apply for benefits, visit www.labor.alabama.gov or call 866-234-5382.