A center controller reported taking handoffs on two aircraft they did not recognize were converging ...

Narrative:

Aircraft X was level at 11;000 ft. Westbound. I took a handoff from TRACON of aircraft Y out of 9;500 ft. Climbing to 11;000 ft. Obviously merging with aircraft X but didn't realize it until too late. I first called TRACON to see if they were working aircraft Y and if they were to stop their climb at 10;000 ft. They advised they weren't working aircraft Y. I then called a different TRACON sector and told them to stop aircraft Y at 10;000 ft; but they told me they switched the aircraft to another center sector even though the aircraft would never enter their airspace. I called that sector and told them to descend aircraft Y to 10;000 ft. And turn 30 degrees right. They called me back and said they weren't talking to aircraft Y. I then noticed aircraft Y descending to 10;000 ft. And they checked on my frequency. At this point; I had separation between the 2 aircraft but then TRACON descended aircraft X to 10;000 ft. Thus losing separation as they were about 1 mile apart. I turned aircraft Y 30 degrees right to avoid collision. They passed directly behind aircraft X. I believe this is an event that happened because of the major added stress because of the government shutdown. My mind clearly wasn't working as fast as it needed to. There should never be an aircraft aloud northbound on V16 at 11;000 ft. Due to the multiple metro arrivals we feed at 11;000 ft. To the TRACON.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Center Controller reported taking handoffs on two aircraft they did not recognize were converging at the same altitude due to stress from the government shutdown.

Narrative: Aircraft X was level at 11;000 ft. westbound. I took a handoff from TRACON of Aircraft Y out of 9;500 ft. climbing to 11;000 ft. obviously merging with Aircraft X but didn't realize it until too late. I first called TRACON to see if they were working Aircraft Y and if they were to stop their climb at 10;000 ft. They advised they weren't working Aircraft Y. I then called a different TRACON sector and told them to stop Aircraft Y at 10;000 ft; but they told me they switched the aircraft to another Center sector even though the aircraft would never enter their airspace. I called that sector and told them to descend Aircraft Y TO 10;000 ft. AND TURN 30 DEGREES RIGHT. They called me back and said they weren't talking to Aircraft Y. I then noticed Aircraft Y descending to 10;000 ft. and they checked on my frequency. At this point; I had separation between the 2 aircraft but then TRACON descended Aircraft X to 10;000 ft. thus losing separation as they were about 1 mile apart. I turned Aircraft Y 30 degrees right to avoid collision. They passed directly behind Aircraft X. I believe this is an event that happened because of the major added stress because of the government shutdown. My mind clearly wasn't working as fast as it needed to. There should never be an aircraft aloud northbound on V16 at 11;000 ft. due to the multiple metro arrivals we feed at 11;000 ft. to the TRACON.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1611940
Time
Date	201901
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZDC.ARTCC
State Reference	VA
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 15
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict

A center controller reported taking handoffs on two aircraft they did not recognize were converging at the same altitude due to stress from the government shutdown.