Local furloughed federal worker on pay: 'Donald Trump is holding it hostage'

A furloughed IRS worker days away from running out of life-sustaining insulin started a GoFundMe to plea for help.

A family is selling their clothes. A single mother borrowed from parents already as other families are racking up credit card debt.

As the government shutdown heads into its fifth week, workers in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky shared how their families are dealing with the loss of income now. More than 800,000 federal workers are going without paychecks.

More than 4,000 government employees work for at the IRS office in Covington, Ky. Here are four of their stories.

Urgent need

Mother of three Herlean Younce created a GoFundMe campaign online to help pay for insulin she needs to manage her Type II diabetes She has worked at the IRS office in Covington for nearly 30 years.

Younce's salary as an agent specializing in nonprofits typically covers the difference between what insurance pays and her out of pocket expense.

"I need my insulin," she said. "That whole staying alive thing is really important."

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company gave Younce a certificate she can redeem for a week's supply of insulin, which will get her through next weekend.

"People are not understanding," Younce said. "I can’t get my money. Donald Trump is holding it hostage, that’s what it is."

Younce and her husband have twin 9-year-olds and a 12-year-old. Her husband is working a second job filling orders for DoorDash Food Delivery to raise money for her insulin.

She's planning to go to hospital emergency rooms to ask for insulin every three days on her insurance soon.

"It will rack up a huge bill, but it's what I have to do," she said.

The cable bill is going unpaid and it may be disconnected. Their mortgage lender is working with them, she said.

Borrowing from parents

Covington single mother Danielle Miller said she has already borrowed money from her parents who live on a fixed income. She's been on the job as a tax examiner at the IRS for 14 years.

"I have two kids who live with me at home," Miller said. "I have no other income. I don't get child support."

Missing their last paycheck made the shutdown real for furloughed workers, she said. She will miss a second paycheck next week.

She filed for unemployment, which she can't get if she is ordered to work without pay. The president has guaranteed backpay once the shutdown ends.

The IRS will call back 36,000 employees to process tax returns and refunds.

Miller said her landlord has agreed to allow her to pay rent in two installments in February if needed.

"Over the last week I've spent about $35 on groceries," she said. Her normal grocery bill is about $100.

Eating soup

Mary and Kevin Dallas met at the IRS where they have both worked for more than 18 years. They're sending a daughter to the private Holy Cross High School in Covington. The Catholic school has allowed them to delay monthly tuition payments, said Kevin, a human resources specialist.

The couple received deferrals for many of their monthly bills, he said. Duke Energy offered to put them on even billing. The family already was on even billing to spread higher cost monthly utility payments evenly over the course of a year.

They've dipped into savings. They are eating soup and stews that provide leftovers instead of eating out about four times a week, he said. They are not certain they will be able to pay the next Duke bill when it comes Feb. 1.

Feeling trapped

Becky and Justin Culver are both IRS workers. They are dipping into savings, she said.

Groceries are going to credit cards, said the IRS call site manager. She's worked at IRS for 18 years.

Both of them were told they didn't have to report back after saying doing so would create a financial hardship, she said.

"For my husband, he feels tied to his job because he is in the student loan forgiveness program so he feels like he should wait it out," she said. "For me, I am going to college for accounting and my tuition rate is based on my government employment so we both feel stuck."

For now, they are going through clothes to sell them for consignment. They are selling DVDs and books. Things found in the basement are being put on Facebook's marketplace instead of having a yard sale, she said.

"I don't think people realize how demoralizing it is to be in this position and I wish they did, or that they cared more," Culver said.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Local furloughed federal worker on pay: 'Donald Trump is holding it hostage'