with looming furloughs stressing federal workers some are turning to unemployment benefits to help balance their checkbooks. i can t afford to give any more. i don t have it. i don t have it. alicia st. john a civilian electrician at a philadelphia navy yard says pay freezes and family obligations have drained her bank account. and now budget cuts are squeezing her last dime. they don t feel the effects. of losing a hundred dollars. it makes or breaks my day, my month, my year. every cent counts for us. congress and the white house have failed to reach a deal and federal government employees are being basically the whipping boys. reporter: unemployment benefits were not an option because the 11 days st. john will be forced to give up are scattered throughout the summer. but now her union the international federation of professional and technical engineers has negotiated a deal with her employer that will