How the Government Shutdown Will Impact Virginia

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - The impending government shutdown set for midnight Monday will have the largest impact on civilian Department of Defense employees, with paychecks potentially delayed for active military personnel if the Congressional deadlock continues for more than a week. Here is a guide compiled by NBC12 on who will and will not be impacted across Central Virginia.

Affected

Fort Lee / Defense Supply Center

- About half of civilian defense workers, or an estimated 400,000 people, will be sent home and furloughed beginning Tuesday morning according to the Defense Department's contingency plan.

Delayed services for veterans

- If the shutdown lasts into the end of October, the Department of Veterans Affairs says it will run out of money for compensation and pension checks to more than 3.6 million veterans. This will affect veterans who rely on the money to pay for combat-related injuries and other support services.

Federal Workers furloughed

- The Federal Government estimates that more than a third of its workers will be forced to stay home, a number approximating 800,000 of the nation's 2.1 million federal employees.

Frozen: federal loans for rural areas, small businesses, families buying a home

- If you need a federal loan to buy a home, you will have to wait. Most employees who process applications will be sent home, and the government will not be authorized to make any new loans to farmers or small businesses.

National Parks

- National Parks will immediately shut down at midnight. This affects the Petersburg National Battlefield, the Richmond Battlefield, Maggie Walker's Home in Richmond, and Grant's Headquarters in Hopewell.

Possible Passport Delays

- The State Department is equipped with funding outside of Congressional appropriations. However, expect significant delays in requesting a new passport. For students or tourists overseas, embassies and consulates will run as normal.

Services that will continue

Paychecks for Active Military Personnel

- Paychecks would continue for about a week. Checks sent out on Oct. 1 will not be affected. No active military personnel will be furloughed. All active-duty military are classified as essential, and should report as scheduled Tuesday.

- IF a shutdown lasts longer than one week, the Pentagon may have to delay paychecks sent out on Oct. 15.

You will still get your mail

- The U.S. Postal Service will continue normal deliveries, its business unit or employees are not affected by the shutdown.

Law enforcement and emergency and disaster assistance

- All services considered critical to national security, public safety and health will operate as normal.

Social Security

- Social Security is a mandatory spending program. The people who mail social security checks are considered necessary personnel. However, there will be delays in processing new Social Security applications.

Veterans Hospitals

- Veterans Hospitals will continue to fill prescriptions, offer inpatient care and offer counseling.

The Richmond Federal Reserve

- Will be open for business as usual. Is not funded through Congressional appropriations.

The President's Paycheck

- The president's $400,000 salary is mandatory spending, but like other government employees, his future paychecks in could be delayed if the shutdown persists.

Congress's Paychecks

- Members of Congress will also continue to be paid, a policy enacted under the 27th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1992.

Obamacare will still happen

- The state-run exchanges for anyone without health insurance will open Tuesday. The government shutdown was prompted by Republican efforts in the House of Representatives to de-fund Obamacare.

Unemployment benefits will still be paid

- Unemployment benefits will continue, since they are considered essential functions of the Employment and Training Administration.

Food stamps will continue

- Funds for food stamps do not expire for another year, and are paid for through the Recovery Act, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.