Question 1

Loan Programs and Other Financial Assistance

Accepted Answer

• Resources available through Maryland Credit Unions: Credit unions are offering financial assistance and payment flexibility for members affected by changes to their federal employment status due to the shutdown. Members are encouraged to contact their credit union directly to determine eligibility and learn about available relief programs, which may include:
    • Emergency low interest loans
    • Penalty-free share certificate withdrawals
    • Payment deferrals on existing loans
    • Line of credit increases and 60-day 0% APR relief lines of credit
    • Loan adjustments on a case-by-case basis
    • Auto loan refinancing
    • Increased credit card and credit line limits

To learn more, federal employees and contractors can contact their local credit union or visit go.md.gov/FederalShutdown (https://go.md.gov/FederalShutdown)and click on “Loan Programs and Other Financial Assistance”.
To find a specific  credit union’s contact information, use the National Credit Union Administration credit union locator.(https://mapping.ncua.gov/)
 • Resources available through Maryland Chartered Banks: Banks typically offer a range of assistance programs to help their customers manage their financial obligations. Such programs may include:
    • Emergency low-interest loans
    • Penalty-free certificate of deposit withdrawals
    • Payment deferrals on existing loans
    • Line of credit increases
    • Loan adjustments on a case-by-case basis
    • Increased credit card and credit line limit

Bank customers affected by changes to their federal employment status due to the shutdown are encouraged to contact their bank directly to learn if their bank is offering any relief programs specific to the government shutdown.
 • Federal Shutdown Loan Program: The Maryland Department of Labor will launch a Federal Shutdown Loan Program on October 6th, in the event that the federal shutdown starting on October 1st remains in effect.
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    • Maryland residents who are current federal employees designated as “excepted” (also called “essential”), and are required to work without pay during a federal government shutdown, are not eligible for unemployment insurance, but they may be eligible for the Federal Shutdown Loan Program to help pay for expenses like food and rent.
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    • This $700 no-interest loan must be repaid 45 days after the shutdown ends, giving workers time to receive their back pay from the federal government.
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    • Loan program information and the application will be available beginning October 6th at mdol.submittable.com/submit. 
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    • For support, applicants can email MDshutdownloan@submittable.com or call 410-849-6424 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday) beginning October 6th.

Question 2

Utility Resources

Accepted Answer

• Electric and Gas Utility Protections: An involuntarily furloughed federal government employee who is not receiving a paycheck as a result of a government shutdown has protections under law. Electric or gas providers cannot cut off service due to unpaid bills.
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 • Federal employees must contact their electric or gas provider before their service is cut off to verify that they are a furloughed employee and agree to a payment plan to pay what they owe after the shutdown ends.
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 • These protections apply:
    • beginning on the eighth day a government shutdown is in effect, and
    • continue through the first seven days after the government shutdown ends.
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 • To be eligible, federal employees must:
    • be a current federal, state, or local government employee,
    • be furloughed involuntarily because of a government shutdown regardless of whether the employee is required to report to work during the furlough, and
    • be unpaid during the shutdown.

• These protections do not apply to federal contractors. 
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 • Protections only cover electric and gas. They do not cover municipal water.
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 • Support from BGE, Pepco and Delmarva Power: BGE, Pepco and Delmarva Power are committed to helping customers impacted by the federal government shutdown with expanded bill payment support options. Furloughed federal workers are encouraged to contact our customer care team for information on flexible payment options, late payment charge waivers and additional bill payment support available to them in this challenging time. Customers will not be required to provide government ID to access additional support.
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 • BGE: 800-685-0123 
 • Pepco: 202-833-7500
 • Delmarva Power: 800-375-7117

Question 3

Unemployment Insurance

Accepted Answer

• Unemployment Insurance: Unemployment insurance (UI) is available to eligible Marylanders, including federal workers impacted by a government shutdown.
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 • ﻿Furloughed federal employees—who are not working and are not being paid during a government shutdown—may be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits through the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees program. Furloughed federal employees are required to repay those benefits after the shutdown ends and they receive retroactive pay.
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 • Furloughed employees of federal contractors—who are not working and are not being paid—may be eligible for state unemployment insurance benefits.
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 • Individuals who are found eligible can receive up to $430 in weekly benefits (pre-tax).
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 • To apply for unemployment, workers can file online or call 667-207-6520 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Federal workers should select option #9.
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 • Workers should apply for UI benefits in the jurisdiction of their "duty station." This means, for example, that if you are a Marylander who is laid off from a federal job based in Virginia, you should apply for benefits in Virginia. Here are direct links to apply for UI benefits in Maryland; Washington, DC; and Virginia.

Question 4

Resources from the Office of Governor Wes Moore

Accepted Answer

Governor Moore has launched a centralized hub for programs and resources to support Maryland’s federal employees and contractors impacted by federal workforce layoffs, firings, and changes to federal funding. Click here to find Governor Moore’s Resources for Impacted Workers page (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://response.maryland.gov/federalpublicservants/__;!!BE8q0vBWmvix!OXqc4STzmyDBbEQXxhcpQvfyEOMTrY-04rMVDfpok4XwdnlKg8SGDfYg_oTo8rI0XNyMot1R5pNQ3HzI01_AKjnxrnn7qOibGBE2Fw$)which also provides legal resources, information on federal employment rules and regulations, and county programs and resources.

Question 5

Resources from the Office of Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth

Accepted Answer

In the wake of the many changes Americans are facing today, my colleague and friend Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth has put together a list of resources for Marylanders that have been impacted by the Trump Administration and rapidly developing Federal policies. An extensive list of resources for Federal workers, immigrant individuals and families, and LGBTQ+ community members can be found by clicking here.(https://elfreth.house.gov/services/resources-marylanders-affected-trump-administration-policies)

Government Shutdown Resources

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