The moon rises above the National Mall in Washington, DC, in October. Kent Nishimura/Reuters/File

Right after setting her out-of-office email on October 1, one furloughed US Department of Agriculture worker filed for unemployment benefits to help her pay for food, rent and other necessities during the federal government shutdown.

More than three weeks later, her application is still listed as pending – forcing her to borrow from family and friends as the impasse continues with no end in sight. The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance told her she may have to wait up to three months to receive her first payment, though she will receive a lump sum for all the missed weeks of claims.

“But that doesn’t help me now,” said the worker, who asked for anonymity for fear of retal

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