New Hampshire's top official overseeing unemployment benefits says the state is ready to assist any federal worker furloughed or laid off during the government shutdown.

George Copadis, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security, said he expects about 3,000 of the federal workers who live in New Hampshire — out of roughly 9,000 total — to be eligible for state benefits if the shutdown lasts.

But Copadis said it's hard to know exactly how many people will seek unemployment benefits until they start filing claims, which he expects will ramp up if the federal shutdown extends into a second week.

“Resources are there, all our offices are all-hands-on-deck at this point, and they are ready to take any unemployment claims,” Copadis said in an interview.

He said payin

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