If you are a federal employee, there are options that may be available to you to cope with the financial challenges that you may be experiencing with the shutdown, as shared by USA TODAY:
- Bank of America – personalized financial assistance for clients
- Chase – hardship programs
- Congressional Federal Credit Union – relief programs including lines of credit and personal loans
- Fed Choice – options through Furlough Center including membership deposit waiver, furlough loans, and withdrawal penalty waiver
- Navy Federal Credit Union – government shutdown loan program
- U.S. Employees Credit Union – government shutdown loans
- Wells Fargo – government shutdown assistance including forbearance and payment assistance programs
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management – Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UNCE)
Additional resources including wireless providers and local (DC-based) businesses providing support are listed here.
Source: Tyko, K. (2019, January 10). Businesses offer furlough freebies, shutdown specials and assistance to federal workers. USA TODAY. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com
UPDATE: For federal employees in NYC, the New York Common Pantry is providing bags of food – produce, dry goods and proteins to help through this time at their Manhattan and Bronx Pantry:
- Manhattan: 8 East 109th Street, Manhattan, Wednesday – Saturday from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Bronx: 1290 Hoe Avenue, Bronx, Thursday – Saturday from 10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Also, Masbia Soup Kitchen Network serves free hot dinner and distributes raw grocery packages to all. Masbia operates out of 3 locations throughout New York City and is open 5 days a week. Everyone is eligible no ID needed. Everyone is entitled to free sit in dinner nightly and a take-home grocery package once a week. ALL FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS ARE WELCOME. See more information below. (No need to call ahead, just show up)
