Federal Government Shutdown FAQ

You may be eligible for benefits, as long as you meet other eligibility requirements.

Under Wisconsin UI law, your backpay is treated as wages for the period you were furloughed.

You will receive a determination indicating you have an overpayment. After the determination is issued, payments can be made online at https://ui.wi.gov/pay or by selecting the "Make a Payment" button on "My UI Summary" at my.unemployment.wisconsin.gov.

Apply for benefits online at my.unemployment.wisconsin.gov.

Report your separation as "Temporarily Laid Off / Let Go because of Lack of Work (any duration) / Plant Shutdown / Holiday Shutdown." Do not select “Strike / Lockout / Labor Dispute” or “Fired / Discharged.” The furlough is not the result of a labor dispute (strike or lockout) or your employer firing you from your job. Selecting either of those options will slow down your claim.

Please note: After you apply, you must submit a weekly claim for every week you want to receive UI.

To determine if you qualify, DWD will need information about your past wages. You will be sent an ETA-935 "Claimant Affidavit of Federal Civilian Service, Wages, and Reason for Separation" to provide information about your wages and separation. Return this document with proof of your wages promptly. Your employer's response to wage information may be delayed. No benefits can be paid until DWD establishes you have qualifying wages.

Note: The first week you are eligible for benefits on a claim is a mandatory unpaid waiting week. You will not be paid benefits for your waiting week. You must submit a weekly claim for the waiting week to get credit for that week. Your second week of unemployment will be the first potentially payable week. For more information go to https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/handbook.

You may be required to search for work and register for work with Job Center of Wisconsin. If required, you will be notified when you apply for benefits. For information on work search requirements, see https://dwd.wi.gov/uiben/worksearch-requirements.htm.

You may be eligible, depending on the hours you work and your gross earnings. If you work less than 32 hours/week and earn $500/week or less, use our Partial UI Benefits Calculator to see if you may be eligible for any benefits.

Yes, work must be reported in the week it is performed, not when it is paid.

Apply for benefits online at my.unemployment.wisconsin.gov.

Report your separation as "Still Working – Part-time or Full-time or Working Reduced Hours." Do not select “Strike / Lockout / Labor Dispute." The furlough is not the result of a labor dispute/strike/lockout.

Please note: After you apply, you must submit a weekly claim for every week you want to receive UI.

To determine if you qualify, DWD will need information about your past wages. You will be sent an ETA-935 "Claimant Affidavit of Federal Civilian Service, Wages, and Reason for Separation" to provide information about your wages and separation. Return this document with proof of your wages promptly. Your employer's response to wage information may be delayed. No benefits can be paid until DWD establishes you have qualifying wages.

Note: The first week you are eligible for benefits on a claim is a mandatory unpaid waiting week. You must submit a weekly claim for the waiting week to get credit for that week. You will not be paid benefits for your waiting week. Your second week of unemployment will be the first potentially payable week. For more information go to https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/handbook.

If you are still working part-time, you will be required to register with Job Center of Wisconsin.

Full time excepted employees are not eligible for unemployment benefits, even though they won't be paid until after the shutdown. Employees who work 32 hours/week or more are not partially unemployed.

If you are furloughed by your company during the shutdown, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. If you receive compensation for the shutdown, you will be required to repay any UI benefits you received.

If your job is eliminated as part of a Reduction in Force (RIF), you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits as of the effective date on your notice of reduction in force.

You would need to report you voluntarily separated (quit) and DWD would investigate if you are eligible.