A sign on the door to the FDR Library & Museum's Wallace Visitor Center indicates that due to the government shutdown, the facilities are closed on December 24, 2018.

A government shutdown means hundreds of thousands of non-essential federal workers aren't reporting to work. Or getting paid.

Their last paycheck will be paid according to the regular payment schedule, but only for the hours they worked before being furloughed. Only once Congress passes funding to resume agencies’ normal operations, workers should be able to return to work and get paid as usual. When that might be, though, is anyone’s guess.

That uncertainty comes at a time when many Americans’ budgets may already be stressed from years of elevated inflation, a slowing economy and possibly more tariffs. So, what are workers to do in the meantime, and what can they expect?

Below are some answers to frequently asked questions, according to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), on what furloughed workers can expect.

Can furloughed workers claim unemployment insurance?

Yes, furloughed workers can file for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits in most states to help them bridge the gap until work resumes.

Requirements differ between states, with some requiring a one-week waiting period before someone qualifies for payments, the OPM said. Check the Department of Labor’s website at Unemployment Benefits Finder | CareerOneStop on how to file for UI in your state.

Essential full-time workers could face a more challenging situation. They must continue working without pay, and they generally aren't eligible to collect unemployment benefits. They'll have to wait to get paid when the government reopens to receive retroactive pay for their time.

How much is the weekly unemployment insurance benefit?

Benefit amounts vary by state but are generally based on a percentage of an individual's earnings over a recent 52-week period, up to a state maximum amount, according to the Department of Labor.

Most states pay benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks. Benefits are subject to federal income taxes and must be reported on your federal income tax return. You can choose to have the tax withheld by the State Unemployment Insurance agency.

Most states also tax UI benefits. Only six states (Alabama, California, Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia) exempt all unemployment benefits from taxation, and Indiana and Wisconsin offer a partial exclusion, said Richard Pon, certified public accountant in San Francisco.

Beware of the unemployment insurance payback

When the government reopens and you return to work, you should receive retroactive pay for the period of the shutdown.

Since you can’t get paid twice for the same hours, you must repay all unemployment compensation received to the state based on its rules. You’re responsible for contacting your state's Department of Labor and making repayment arrangements with the appropriate unemployment office. You may be required to repay in full by a specific date or establish a payment plan with the state labor department.

If you don't address the overpayment, the state can collect through various means, such as garnishing future unemployment benefits, taking your future state or federal tax refunds, or taking money from your wages.

Does health insurance continue?

Yes, workers continue to be covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, which includes health, vision, dental and any other benefits you enrolled in. Coverage continues as usual even if an agency doesn’t make the premium payment on time due to the shutdown furlough.

The enrollee’s share of the premium will accumulate and be withheld from pay when they resume receiving payments.

However, if an employee purchases eligible health care items or services during furlough, they can’t be reimbursed from a flexible spending account until the worker returns to pay status and payroll deductions can be made.

Similarly, Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program coverage will continue, but claims won’t be reimbursed to the enrollee until all past due premiums are paid.

Can employees take other jobs while on furlough?

Since you’re still considered a federal employee on furlough, any job must fall within the federal government’s standards of ethical conduct and rules.

Additionally, there may be specific laws that prohibit certain outside activities, and agency-specific supplemental rules to be adhered to, so you need to check them before taking another job.

The same applies to essential workers who want to take a paid job to help them through the period without a paycheck or unemployment benefits.

What other financial assistance is available?

  • Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) loans are available, with the usual fees and interest rates. TSPs are defined-contribution retirement savings and investment plans for federal employees and military members. The latest information and rules can be found on the TSP website.
  • Employee assistance programs (EAP) can provide confidential counseling and coaching with experienced, licensed counselors, including legal and financial consultation. Workers can find more information on EAPs on OPM’s website.

How many workers are affected?

Since none of the 12 appropriations bills have been approved, this shutdown is more extensive than the partial shutdown that started in December 2018, when Congress had enacted five of the 12 appropriations bills, said the nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank Committee for a Responsible Budget.

Instead, this shutdown is comparable to the one in 2013, when approximately 850,000 out of 2.1 million non-postal federal employees were furloughed, it said.

Medora Lee is a money, markets and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at mjlee@usatoday.com and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Help! I'm a federal worker and the government just shut down. What now?

Reporting by Medora Lee, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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