Federal Shutdown Forces Temporary Layoff of 56 Federally Funded DHHS Staff

Disability Determination Office in Winthrop closed temporarily

AUGUSTA – The federal government shutdown has forced the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to notify all 52 state employees at the Disability Determination Office in Winthrop that they are being temporarily laid off.

These employees, whose salaries are 100 percent federally funded, make Social Security Disability Determinations on behalf of the federal government.

In addition to these staff members, four other employees were laid off temporarily, including two employees in the Office of Aging and Disability Services, one employee in the Office of Multicultural Affairs and one in the Office for Family Independence.

All of these positions are 100 percent federally funded, and no funding is available to provide their salaries. Employees were notified Monday, and the layoff was effective immediately.

“The State of Maine has no choice but to suspend operation of disability determination because it relies solely on federal funding,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “This is just one of the many difficult situations we must address as the federal shutdown in Washington continues with no immediate resolution in sight.”

As a result of the federal shutdown, the Disability Determination Office in Winthrop until further notice.