Start with information you can trace to the source.

Find the federal furlough guidance.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) publishes guidance on shutdown and administrative furloughs. Its shutdown guidance is a starting point for understanding the terms used in agency notices and questions about pay, leave, and benefits.

Use the current guidance linked from OPM’s main furlough page. Older PDFs and articles may describe a different shutdown or earlier guidance.

Source: U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Go to your agency for your situation.

For your work status, reporting instructions, or a specific paycheck, start with your agency’s official notices and designated HR or payroll contact. A general explanation cannot determine what applies to your position.

If you need to find an agency’s official website or public contact information, USA.gov maintains an A–Z directory of federal departments and agencies.

Source: USA.gov

Keep the questions practical.

When you speak with your agency’s HR or payroll team, these questions can help you get information specific to your job:

• Where will I receive official updates about my work status?
• What are my reporting instructions during a funding lapse?
• Who can explain how my next scheduled paycheck may be affected?
• Where should I take questions about leave and benefits?