Any other families planning for a furlough?

[psimon]

The stupid thing is when we were furloughed in 2011 for 2 weeks, they ended up paying us anyway! How's that for a waste!

I know that won't happen this time.

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[Mom2Mack]

Lots of furlough chatter at our Agency too but nothing from upper mgmt yet. Just booked our timeshare for June & collecting as much extra funds to fund our trip. Push comes to shove we hang out on beach or resort for the week

 

[punkin]

Yeah, well, we do too, but even if they aren't talking about it publicly, be aware it could impact you too. My agency shouldn't be one affected, but it's planning because they've been told nothing and no one is off the table. There's some current arguing going on at higher levels.

You may be right, but DH thinks it is extremely unlikely to affect him directly.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If anyone works for the VA, we were told we would not be affected by sequestration. I will be expecting my first pension check from the VA (after 21 years there) in March. Hope I get that. I get my first Social Security check in mid-March, too. Hope that isn't delayed either.

 

[disykat]

Remember, let's talk budget - not politics - or this thread will get closed!



I'm glad to hear it sounds like belt tightening will get a lot of us through! For us, the timing just stinks with the expense of another child entering college in the Fall. In our town, I'm worried about some of the small retaurants etc. that those of us who are tightening our belts won't go to!

 

[bdcp]

You may be right, but DH thinks it is extremely unlikely to affect him directly.

We probably work in the same field. We've heard everything from it won't affect us at all to DOD is demanding that everyone has to play.

 

[bdcp]

Remember, let's talk budget - not politics - or this thread will get closed!



I'm glad to hear it sounds like belt tightening will get a lot of us through! For us, the timing just stinks with the expense of another child entering college in the Fall. In our town, I'm worried about some of the small retaurants etc. that those of us who are tightening our belts won't go to!

No one has discussed partisan politics. Just the government in general

 

[bdcp]

If anyone works for the VA, we were told we would not be affected by sequestration. I will be expecting my first pension check from the VA (after 21 years there) in March. Hope I get that. I get my first Social Security check in mid-March, too. Hope that isn't delayed either.

Pensions and SS will not be affected. This is about furloughing current employees. Let's not do the scare the retired thing now.

 

[bdcp]

Lots of furlough chatter at our Agency too but nothing from upper mgmt yet. Just booked our timeshare for June & collecting as much extra funds to fund our trip. Push comes to shove we hang out on beach or resort for the week

Upper mgt has been told not to say too much. They're also afraid of the backlash.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Pensions and SS will not be affected. This is about furloughing current employees. Let's not do the scare the retired thing now.

I just retired at the end of January and I know my pension will be about 80% of what I should be getting for the first few months until they get it all figured out. I haven't gotten any SS or pension check at this time because I am newly retired. I'm hoping those aren't delayed by other agencies. It's just in transition at this point. They are still processing my retirement.

 

[gwynne]

Pensions and SS will not be affected. This is about furloughing current employees. Let's not do the scare the retired thing now.

Exactly. Retirees should not be worrying about things that aren't going to happen. Rumor control is important.

 

[gwynne]

I just retired at the end of January and I know my pension will be about 80% of what I should be getting for the first few months until they get it all figured out. I haven't gotten any SS or pension check at this time because I am newly retired. I'm hoping those aren't delayed by other agencies. It's just in transition at this point.

It is certainly possible you have a very unusual situation due to dates and other factors. Probably annoying, but it doesn't mean the vast majority of retirees will experience something similar.

 

[eliza61]

Ok I feel so stupid. I'm not a government employee and I haven't heard of furloughs.

What's up?

 

[psimon]

Upper mgt has been told not to say too much. They're also afraid of the backlash.

There isn't any backlash now?

So they say nothing and leave all the chatter to the worker-bees. Is that really rational?

With everyone not knowing the real facts as to how we would be furloughed, we stand around the proverbial water cooler spending/wasting time talking about what could be instead of what will be. If all of that time was used working, we might not have as big of an issue. I'm not saying there wouldn't be a problem, just maybe a slightly smaller one as everyone would be more efficient.

I guess expecting honesty from the upper management is asking too much. We have budgets WE have to worry about to.

Glad I booked and paid for an Aulani trip prior to all of this! Just hope I have cash to spend while there!

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[Zhoen]

Hi Eliza. You're not stupid, it's not in the media... but remember all that "fiscal cliff/sequestration" talk back at New Years?

They passed an emergency measure and everyone forgot about it... but it was only until March 1st. The debt ceiling is extended until May now, but the sequestration is scheduled to hit 1 March unless (fill in the blank here depending on who you choose to believe.)

A lot of gov't agencies would lose a LOT of money from their budgets, and have been trying to figure out how they would absorb that. Furloughs (unpaid days off) are one of the ways they can do it. A lot of gov't contractors might be pink-slipped. Most agencies are having major travel and operations restrictions.

It hadn't occured to me that the FAA would be affected. But if it is, I'd definitely rather deal with delays than worry about people's safety.

 

[psimon]

It hadn't occured to me that the FAA would be affected. But if it is, I'd definitely rather deal with delays than worry about people's safety.

If there is hysteria in the political world now, just think how it would turn if a plane so much as touches another plane on the runway.... let alone, worse.

Resolutions would show up quickly. Let's hope it doesn't get to that.

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[worm761]

DH is a DOD employee and we are a one income family. We have the funds in the savings account to cover the bills if a furlough happens. I have started to stock pile what I can with food and household needs. I also made a furlough menu that I have been working on so I know how much money I need to pull for groceries and such. We would just have to cut out all entertainment and such to make it through.

The thought that truly scares me is what happens with health insurance if we go 22 days with no pay? The higher ups at DH's base has been trickling down some information and they say we can opt to stay in and just pay the dues when he is paid again. But that means even more cuts to our paycheck for longer than though. I failed to plan for that outcome so I am working on it now.

This is very scary and I hate that it happens every year. I have started my own little furlough savings for next year hoping that I will be less stressed about it.

 

[1Mouse2RulethemAll]

DH is a DOD employee and we are a one income family. We have the funds in the savings account to cover the bills if a furlough happens. I have started to stock pile what I can with food and household needs. I also made a furlough menu that I have been working on so I know how much money I need to pull for groceries and such. We would just have to cut out all entertainment and such to make it through.

The thought that truly scares me is what happens with health insurance if we go 22 days with no pay? The higher ups at DH's base has been trickling down some information and they say we can opt to stay in and just pay the dues when he is paid again. But that means even more cuts to our paycheck for longer than though. I failed to plan for that outcome so I am working on it now.

This is very scary and I hate that it happens every year. I have started my own little furlough savings for next year hoping that I will be less stressed about it.

DoD will probably do 1 day a week and the insurance will still be paid every two weeks. OPM has guidance on their website about the furlough. What will happen is once we hit 80 hours without pay, there will be no leave earned that pay period.

I am in the same boat as you. We are essentially a one income house and I am DoD, too. My budget is already tight since DH lost his job and we have a baby due this summer.



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[psimon]

DH is a DOD employee and we are a one income family. We have the funds in the savings account to cover the bills if a furlough happens. I have started to stock pile what I can with food and household needs. I also made a furlough menu that I have been working on so I know how much money I need to pull for groceries and such. We would just have to cut out all entertainment and such to make it through.

The thought that truly scares me is what happens with health insurance if we go 22 days with no pay? The higher ups at DH's base has been trickling down some information and they say we can opt to stay in and just pay the dues when he is paid again. But that means even more cuts to our paycheck for longer than though. I failed to plan for that outcome so I am working on it now.

This is very scary and I hate that it happens every year. I have started my own little furlough savings for next year hoping that I will be less stressed about it.

I was told the reason they want to do a day a week as opposed to a lump of days was because of insurance. If you only have sporadic furlough days, insurance is not effected. If you were to take all 22 days together you would have insurance issues.

But then.... as a lump of days, you can get unemployment. I did that last time when we had 2 full weeks here in NJ. But that is all state dependent.... your mileage may vary!

Anyway... that is the rational behind spreading it out.

Hope that helps...

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[snarlingcoyote]

If there is hysteria in the political world now, just think how it would turn if a plane so much as touches another plane on the runway.... let alone, worse.

Resolutions would show up quickly. Let's hope it doesn't get to that.

---Paul in Southern NJ

I think a lot of people forget how much the federal gov't makes modern life possible. I'm a bit worried about what's going to happen if a compromise isn't reached.

Praying that none of ya'll have to go on furlough and that compromise is reached.