For Low-Income Americans, The Shutdown is Becoming a Crisis
In the midst of the longest federal government shutdown in the nation’s history, hundreds of thousands of government workers are facing a common problem for many Americans: living paycheck to paycheck. The effects go beyond federal employees: the Urban Institute finds that families that rely on programs like SNAP or housing assistance are struggling to pay for basic needs. And with most IRS employees furloughed, millions of families may face delays in receiving their benefits under the Earned Income Tax Credit, which are typically processed early in the year.