FALL RIVER – If the federal government was an employee, managers would be talking to personnel by now.

It calls in sick a lot.

The government has gotten constipated and shut down 21 times since 1976. And on Saturday, it will be in the longest shutdown since Bill Clinton was president and government shut down for 21 days, beginning on Dec. 15, 1995.

So there is a lot of doubt about what will happen if the shutdown extends into next week. No shutdown has gone that long before.

There is plenty of worry, too. That is being expressed at a lot of local agencies.

Federal workers, especially those assigned to T.F. Green Airport in Warwick with the Transportation Security Administration, are expected to miss their first paycheck next week if the impasse continues.

“I have a friend with the TSA,” said Garth Patterson, director of the fuel assistance program at Citizens for Citizens. “We are trying to get the word out that they can be eligible for assistance if they aren’t paid.

“If people aren’t getting paid, we urge them to come in for fuel assistance.”

Income limits for assistance are computed by the month, so one missed paycheck for TSA employees could be enough to make them eligible, Patterson said.

Ray Hague, the city's veteran agent, said the Veterans Association has also set up procedures to get heating assistance to federal workers who miss paychecks during the shutdown.

Citizens for Citizens also helps people apply for SNAP benefits. To date, benefits are being processed, according to Leida Baptista, the program director. January benefits are being paid and February benefits are also assured, she said.

“For now, everything is OK,” she said “People shouldn’t worry.

“Of course, a lot depends on how long this goes on. No one knows that.”

The Greater Boston Food Bank sent out an advisory last week, explaining that SNAP benefits are funded through the end of January at least. The delivery of food for food pantries will also continue without interruption through the end of the month.

"We've had a lot of people come in and ask us about it," said Chrystal Arpa, director of community resources at Citizens for Citizens. "People are scared and they are trying to be prepared.

"They are scared about SNAP benefits, they are scared about Social Security and they want to know if they will get tax refunds."

Social Security and the U.S. Postal Service are both self funded so they are not affected by the impasse between Congress and President Trump on the budget. Agents for Social Security said they are fully open and anyone worried can call or go to the Social Security website.

The U.S. Postal Service is also still hard at work, officials say.

“People will not see a difference in their mail,” said Maureen Marion, the spokeswoman for the postal service in this region. “People will not see a difference in their post office lobby.”

The State Department is also still accepting and processing passports.

The school department has federal grants, but those run through August, according to School Superintendent Matthew Malone.

Veterans services locally and at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Providence are also on a different funding cycle, so their work continues, according to Ray Hague, the city’s veteran agent.

“The VA came here on Jan. 2 and they are due back on Jan. 16,” he said. “I haven’t heard anything about them not coming.”

And, since everything is local, the shutdown will also not touch the criminal case against Mayor Jasiel Correia II.

FBI agents and prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s office are excepted employees, so they get to work and get paid.

The mayor’s next court date is set for Feb. 13. It is expected to go forward as scheduled.

Email Kevin P. O’Connor at koconnor@heraldnews.com.