Internal Revenue Service

The funny part is that if you applied for unemployment, you have to shut that off if you get recalled even without pay. If you refuse recall, consequences are outlined in the OPM guidance plus your state would possibly shut your unemployment off for refusing work. It is a 3 week waiting period in Ohio so nobody here has likely seen a penny yet.

Which is why I was saying people have to be careful about rushing down to open a claim. I know during the 2013 shutdown, some of the perms in my office applied for unemployment and then had to deal with a nightmare when they got their back pay and an unemployment payment. Paying it back was not the easiest thing in the world, and then a few wiseguys decided to keep the money and got fired. Others wound up getting a 1099 in Jan 2014 for the UI they received AND paid back.

Are you perm or seasonal? Which call site?

Speaker Pelosi just left a meeting with POTUS. She said he’s saying months to years in their view. Game of telephone as Cocaine Mitch has a different meeting report.

Staff are to negotiate through the weekend.

Ali Velshi needs to chill.

Edited by user Friday, January 4, 2019 10:35:38 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Waiting on POTUS to speak. Starting to see Facebbok post about how the IRS can't issue refunds during a shutdown. Wonder how much of a delay to the start of this year's filing season we will have.

The people applied and got unemployment but didn't report it - then got back pay and didn't pay back the unemployment they did receive. They then got to go talk to TIGTA which then lead to their termination. Was it really worth it to them at that point- who knows?
Since you haven't technically missed a paycheck yet I would wait & see if you get a call back notification today as others seem to be getting. If you think you can pay back the unemployment when we get the back pay then that is only a decision you can make. I fortunately can survive and plan for these things as I am seasonal to begin with.

I work out of Des Moines call site for ACS Collections - 2nd shift.

As far as IDRS being up - awesome! A lot of our new staff had not been trained on green screen yet and that would've been baptism by fire, lol.

That's unfortunate to hear. Working for the IRS as a CSR and possibly without pay is beyond ridiculous. I think this job is possibly among the most stressful jobs out there today. We have to put up with so much and now with the shutdown we are probably going to have a more than the usual amount of upset and angry taxpayers calling us. I wish I could find another job. Maybe some day I will escape from this job.

I didn't get a call. Our call site was completely shutdown so there are no managers working to call. I'm just a seasonal CSR AM that like many was in skill up tax law training.

I applied for unemployment that I need to submit paperwork that I haven't gathered by Monday to be approved. I applied for unemployment as a backup plan just in case seasonals don't get back pay. Does anyone know for sure seasonals would get backpay?

In my state unemployment has to review submitted paperwork that will take 2 weeks. Any money they would pay goes on a prepaid like card that I intended to leave on the card until I know for sure if I am getting back pay. If I get recalled and get back pay I just call unemployment and they will take the money back from the card. I reported I am a furlough federal worker and my state unemployment said as long I can't say for certain when my return to service date is or for certain I will be paid back pay I am eligible to apply for unemployment in my state.

I volunteer regularly at a local food pantry. In the line today there were coworkers from my call site and other federal agency employees in need. People had to use their last check to pay rent, utilities, medical bills, car notes, credit card, student loans, etc. One person said they walked a good 3 miles to the pantry because they can't waste gas not knowing if they will be recalled, will get back pay or get unemployment.

Don't just scare people with some investigation for applying for unemployment. Instead give them the correct facts and tell them to reach out to community services. My unemployment office is referring furloughed federal workers to community resources.

The private sector teaches you to be ahead of the game, be prepared and arrive 5 minutes early or you'll be 15 minutes late.

Edited by user Friday, January 4, 2019 3:14:10 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

The union sent out an email stating that AM CSR'S , SP remittance, ACS employees are to start reporting for work on Monday.

It also says that they will "receive training, specifically on the new tax law changes, before resuming work if they have not already received training."

I still haven't received a call or text to report on Monday.