MANCHESTER, N.H. —

State officials estimate that about 3,000 furloughed federal workers are eligible to apply for unemployment benefits in New Hampshire.

However, the state's unemployment office said only a handful of federal workers have filed since the government shutdown began.

Richard Lavers, deputy commissioner of New Hampshire Employment Security, said most federal jobs in the state are considered essential. Those employees must continue working without pay and are not eligible for unemployment.

"Certainly, any federal furloughed workers, either partially furloughed or fully furloughed, they would be eligible to come in and file for unemployment benefits," Lavers said. "Certainly a resource for them during the shutdown."

New Hampshire averages about 3,700 weekly unemployment cla

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