Congressional staffers are sweating a government shutdown

• Congress hasn't passed a legislative branch appropriations bill yet, so congressional employees won't be spared in any shutdown.
• When the government reopens, staffers will receive back pay, but depending on the length of a shutdown, it could be quite painful for the aides who help run Congress.

Between the lines: The House is paid monthly.

• The Senate is on a bimonthly schedule, meaning that Senate staffers could miss a paycheck in mid-October if the government shutdowns.
• For the House, payday is Oct. 31.
• Junior staffers, who are more likely to live paycheck to paycheck, would be expected to feel the effects most.

The bottom line: The Senate and congressional federal credit unions have offered interest-free loans during past shutdowns.

• But not every staffer belongs to them.
• For the U.S. Senate Federal Credit Union, the maximum loan amount is $5,000.