Congress and President Donald Trump have little time and even fewer options to reach a funding deal to avoid triggering a partial government shutdown, which would disrupt U.S. government services and cause the furlough of hundreds of thousands of civil servants beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

If a shutdown does occur, government functions deemed non-essential, like national parks , will close or cut staffing, while essential government services, such as the military and law enforcement, will keep working.

Here's what federal employees should know about filing for unemployment benefits during a government shutdown.

What does it mean to be furloughed?

A mandatory furlough is the "placing of an employee in a temporary nonduty, non-pay status because of lack of work or funds, or ot

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