Government shut down will affect you

[eeyorethegreat]

Agreed--and back pay doesn't help paying current bills. Or bank fees when the automatic deductions bounce. But then, congress gets paid so they don't need to care about the people who ensure their freedom. Things haven't changed a bit since Kipling:

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/kipling/tommy.html

We are military too. Kicker of this looming posibility of not getting paid until the powers that be get their act together is that there was a mess up in Dh pay and we just spent the last three months waiting on his pay. Now that we finally got that "back pay" we are looking at being without pay again!!

 

[marie1203]

We are military too. Kicker of this looming posibility of not getting paid until the powers that be get their act together is that there was a mess up in Dh pay and we just spent the last three months waiting on his pay. Now that we finally got that "back pay" we are looking at being without pay again!!

This is what I am afraid of, not so much on not getting pay check for a few weeks. We had DH pay screw up so many times that I just hope if this happen and we get back pay there is no issues and everything goes smooth.

 

[rangermom]

Both DH and I are federal employees. DH, who is law enforcement, fire fighter and EMT, is an expected employee. He will have to work, but we have been told he will not be paid until all is decided and a bill is passed. Even though I work with law enforcement I'm not an expected employee. I'm actually the only one in my office that isn't. I'm their admin support. We don't know if I will ever get paid.

I'm worried, but we do have enough in savings to get us through, but we did cancel a trip to Vegas this weekend. It would not be responsible to go not knowing when they next check will get here.

For those that say the military will not be affected, I'm not sure where you are getting your information, but every news station I've watch, Fox and MSNBC, have stated that they are only getting half a pay check and then not a check until after a bill is signed.

I think any employee that is expected to work should continue to receive their pay. The are going to pay them any way, so do it timely.

 

[pintamino]

I think any employee that is expected to work should continue to receive their pay. The are going to pay them any way, so do it timely.

but we don't have the money to pay them -- that's the point of all this. I don't think anybody should be asked to work without pay either, but if we hit the debt ceiling legally no more money can be borrowed, and there is no money left to pay even essential employees. it's just not there.

Here's to hoping everybody down in Washington will stop playing games and get their acts together for their constituents.

 

[Bobcats2003]

I'm a federal employee (and single parent) too and a shutdown will DEFINIETLY affect my plans. Even a few days w/o pay may put a dent in my disney fund...probably the deciding factor in whether we fly down vs drive.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

My husband is a federal employee, as well as a Reservist. He says only 14 people in his office will be furloughed if there is a shut down. He is one of them. He also said his reserve duty weekend may be cancelled and he may not get paid for the one he just worked. Yay us

Financially, we will be okay if the shutdown is short. If it's long, we could be in some trouble.

 

[beaucoup]

Tonight's talks failed.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/06/budget-deal-elusive-congressional-leaders-face-pressure/

 

[wdwmom0f3]

SSA Federal Employee here. Most of us will be furloughed starting Monday unless something is passed.

I've got a nice emergency fund so I'll be fine financially. I'm a computer programmer and I'm working on stuff for August right now, a week or two off from work shouldn't have a huge impact on meeting my due dates. So overall it won't have a huge effect on me.

However there are some who live paycheck to paycheck and they will probably have a problem with this.

DH is also a Federal employee and while we will be OK, there is going to be a huge effect all over America for this. On a personal note, I have a trip planned to Disney for my DD's graduation. Now with the threat of a shut down DH is wanting to cancel the trip. I have to pay it off on the 12th or I lose money so I hope and pray I know someting soon! This has been so stressful. I think we have worked it out to go & stay with my mom, but now DH will not be going. It's very frustrating!

A newly retired Federal employee here. So after my 30.5 years in the Federal Government, this just isn't a big deal to me. I've rode the shut down train several times in my USG career in DC. It always works out in due time. The last time they shut down I was in WDW -- go figure -- and when I got home I didn't have to use any vacation time because of the shut down, so ended up with extra vacation days to use and still got paid my full salary. I'm sure this will be resolved before my next retirement payment is due on May 1. It really does affect those tourist that come into DC to visit the Smithsonians as they all shut down! And this is Cherry Blossum time in DC, so there are alot of tourist. I just mailed my taxes this week, so it will come when it comes. Strange that our tax returns are still due on time, even though the USG might be closed to receive them.

As far as I know we are not guaranteed to get back pay if they close. Also DH said that this is twofold. Once they pass the budget, they may still cut his agency so much that they may still fur low them for up to 20 days. That's a month without pay, with no guarantee to get it back. Thank heaven for our savings account, without it we could be in trouble.

 

[MoniqueU]

but we don't have the money to pay them -- that's the point of all this. I don't think anybody should be asked to work without pay either, but if we hit the debt ceiling legally no more money can be borrowed, and there is no money left to pay even essential employees. it's just not there.

Here's to hoping everybody down in Washington will stop playing games and get their acts together for their constituents.

I think this is what is missing in alot of what I hear on the news from people with jobs that they sign up for that they feel are secure. They are most often funded with out tax dollars and by the government in some way shape or form. Our country is beyond leveraged to the point that all these thing are going to collapse us and take everyone down with it. There won't be an issue of collective bargaining as there won't be the money to fund a job for most to begin with. WE are living under a giant ponzi scheme and even the budget cuts that are being fought over right this second aren't enough to forestall disaster even if they all get agreed to.

 

[Leajess99]

I am starting to wonder whether I will be affected or not. I cannot find information anywhere on whether Veterans receiving disability compensation will be paid or not. This is such a mess. I was in the Army when the last shutdown took place but we did still get paid.

They so need to take the pay from the the President, Senators, and Congressmen to pay the soldiers and Veterans.

 

[fakereadhed]

Elections are coming soon. Am I the only one that thinks there is no way we will have a shutdown? Whoever caves will just take credit for the compromise they made to "save the American people". Probably both sides at once! I think their will be a last minute compromise of some sort.

 

[GAGirlInVA]

We filed an amendment to our taxes to claim the rollover adoption tax credit.

I'm not expecting it anytime soon. It's less than $200. It requires someone looking over our adoption paperwork...

 

[Purseval]

If any of you people can't last more than a week without a paycheck a government shutdown is the least of your problems.

 

[akayek31]

Is this going to effect my federal student loans for my tuition this summer? Hopefully they can get their act together by June.

 

[n2mm]

As far as I know we are not guaranteed to get back pay if they close. Also DH said that this is twofold. Once they pass the budget, they may still cut his agency so much that they may still fur low them for up to 20 days. That's a month without pay, with no guarantee to get it back. Thank heaven for our savings account, without it we could be in trouble.

Yea, nothing is guaranteed, but if history repeats itself, then folks will get paid their regular salary when it's all over with. I was an excepted employee (Intelligence), so was expected to be at work and had to for a few shifts. So while the folks at home did nothing got paid their full salary after all was said and done, us excepted folks had to work and got our regular full salary after the budget was passed. But at least one furlough we were on vacation in WDW. I do have to say that now that I'm retired and living on a set income (old Fed CSRS), I do worry about some of these posts. Yea, if this went on for months, then it might be a problem for most people. I just remember how busy I was after the furlough sorting out all of the time and attendance and pay issues so that folks got their checks on time. BTW: that is too bad about your DH's furlough afterwards. My SIL is facing the same thing, but his would be permanent as his department is being cut and since Senator Bryd died, there's no body to fight for his department. My SIL loves his job of 13 years (growing/producing fish--a simple description) and will miss it. Hopefully everyone will be OK, when this is all done and over with. You can imagine that I've been through my share of these issues after over 30 years ALL IN THE same Department and same Building!!

 

[ssawka]

but we don't have the money to pay them -- that's the point of all this. I don't think anybody should be asked to work without pay either, but if we hit the debt ceiling legally no more money can be borrowed, and there is no money left to pay even essential employees. it's just not there.

But I can guarantee you that members of congress will still get paid!

 

[58cognac]

They so need to take the pay from the the President, Senators, and Congressmen to pay the soldiers and Veterans.

I think I heard a brief mention of some thinking the above should not take their pay while this mess is going on. I won't hold my breath on that happening. Maybe Petrobas or Soros will help them through the "hard times".

 

[Avery&Todd]

But I can guarantee you that members of congress will still get paid!

Yeah, they mentioned that on the news last night - that "we were not to worry, b/c even though the Fed employees, and including the military, would not be paid, that Congress and Obama would be paid"...



makes you wannt strangle someone....

 

[punkin]

but we don't have the money to pay them -- that's the point of all this. I don't think anybody should be asked to work without pay either, but if we hit the debt ceiling legally no more money can be borrowed, and there is no money left to pay even essential employees. it's just not there.

Here's to hoping everybody down in Washington will stop playing games and get their acts together for their constituents.

The debt ceiling is an artificial construct. This is just stupid political infighting. DH is a federal employee, but it looks like he won't be furloughed, thank goodness. Well, on the bright side, traffic on the Beltway will be light.

 

[Swimalie]

My husband is a fed employee and he will be furloughed as of Monday unless something changes. After the shut down is over, they will start to work on the 2012 budget and his office has been told it's under a Reduction in Force. So after the shut down, we have to then wonder if he will have a job or will be transferred to another office. So for us, the stress will continue.

We'll be fine without a paycheck but won't be adding to our savings like we do with each pay check. If he's out of a job once the 2012 budget comes along, we will be in trouble after about 6 months. And right now, we couldn't sell our house without taking a $140k hit so we're stuck here.