Good Question: Could government workers collect unemployment during the shutdown?

(WKYT) — For today’s Good Question, Cheryl asks: Did the government workers get to draw unemployment during the shutdown?

Some of them could. The Office of Personnel Management says it depends on whether or not they were required to continue working during the shutdown.

In general, furloughed employees should be eligible to claim unemployment benefits as long as all other state eligibility factors are met, according to the agency.

Kentucky had already set up a website in April to help federal workers who were laid off or furloughed find their state benefits.

However, federal employees who were required to continue working during the shutdown were not part of the group who were eligible for those benefits.

Also, any employees who did receive unemployment and then got backpay would be