Overview

• The shutdown began at 12:01 a.m. EST Wednesday, the first since 2019, leaving thousands of Utah federal employees furloughed or working without pay.
• Utah’s Department of Workforce Services instructs workers to file only after the first missed workday and to indicate “job-attached” status to defer job-search requirements for up to 10 weeks.
• Eligibility for unemployment is decided case by case, and any benefits covering weeks later repaid by federal back pay must be returned.
• Essential personnel who keep working without pay are told to report hours and any earnings when applying so the state can assess eligibility.
• Workers seeking immediate help are directed to 211 Utah for referrals to utilities, health care and food, while the HEAT utility program is not taking applications, and local lenders such as Granite Credit Union are offering lower-cost quick-cash loans and loan extensions.