Utah jobless claims rise amid shutdown

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah's unemployment claims have jumped to more than three times their normal rate as thousands of furloughed federal workers have filed for benefits since the partial shutdown of the U.S. government on Oct. 1, state officials said Thursday.

The Utah Department of Workforce Services, which administers the unemployment benefits program, has received almost 7,000 claims from Oct. 1 to Oct. 7, spokesman Nic Dunn said.

Of those claims, more than 4,600, or about two-thirds, came from federal workers.

DWS normally sees about 2,000 claims a week, Dunn said.

The Salt Lake Tribune first reported the jump in jobless claims Thursday.

If Congress eventually votes to approve back pay for those furloughed workers, they will be responsible for repaying the benefits, using a payment plan if needed, Dunn said.

There are roughly 40,000 federal employees in Utah, about 10,000 of whom are facing furloughs, according to Gov. Gary Herbert.

Because of that federal presence, "we're definitely going to see that impact from those furloughed workers," Dunn said about the increase in claims.

The first checks for those workers should arrive next week, he said.

Some federal employees in Utah and around the country are required to show up for work despite the shutdown but are not being paid.

Dunn said those workers are not eligible for unemployment benefits.

As long as the shutdown is not long term, Dunn said, Utah has the money to pay for the uptick in claims for weeks and possibly months.

"We're seeing a significantly higher number of claims," Dunn said, "but we're perfectly able to handle it right now."