Community Resources

Furlough Grants

FEEA-NARFE: This fund is offering $100 grants to active federal employee members who are not receiving a paycheck during the current shutdown due to being furloughed or working in excepted status. Apply on their website.

Thrift Savings Plan: TSP allows for the suspension of loan payments in non-pay status. Documentation about your furlough is currently not required. Missing one or two payments will not cause your loan to go into default. Log in to your account to check your status or call the Thrift Line at 1-877-968-3778.

Toyota Financial Services & Lexus Financial Services: Affected lease and finance customers in good standing with their accounts may be eligible to take advantage of up to two months of finance contract payment extensions or lease deferred payments. For Toyota Financial Services call 800-874-8822 and for Lexus Financial Services call 800-874-7050.

Hyundai Capital: Hyundai Capital auto loans and lease payments will be extended for 30 days for current Hyundai owners who are federal government employees furloughed during the shutdown. Impacted consumers should contact Hyundai Motor Finance at 1-800-523-4030 to take advantage of this offer.

Kia Motors Finance: Offering deferred payments of 30 days. If you’ve been affected by the current Government Shutdown and need assistance from Kia Finance, please contact them at 1-866-331-5632.

Mobile Telephone Service Providers

AT&T: Will assist with adjusting late fees, providing extensions, and revising payment schedules. 

Sprint: Will provide short-term payment solutions. Call 1-888-211-4747.

T-Mobile: Offering short-term assistance and can spread out service payments over time. Call 1-877-746-0909 or 611 from a T-Mobile device.

Verizon: Offering flexible payment options and has a Promise to Pay program to set payments for a future date. Call 1-866-266-1445.

Rental Home Assistance
National Rental Home Council: Offering deferred rent payment options with no late fees to any renter who has been furloughed.

OPM Sample Letters for Creditors and Mortgage Companies: OPM created sample letters for Federal workers to contact their landlords, mortgage lenders, and utilities, to request help during the shutdown.

National Food Resources & Advice 

Feeding America: This nationwide network of 200 food banks has 60,000 partner pantries from which they can serve every community across the United States. They have already started serving Federal employees affected by the government shutdown.

Your School District: To save on food and ensure your kid eats breakfast and/or lunch free (less stress and worry for you), notify the district of your furlough. No income is an emergency and normally qualifies you for the free meal program.

Home, Auto & Life Insurance Relief 

MetLife: For those not receiving a paycheck from the federal government because of the current shutdown, MetLife Auto & Home may grant a one-time, 30-day grace period on your payment of premium on a MetLife Auto & Home policy. Members must request this one-time allowance by calling 1-800-GET-MET8. Certain restrictions apply, and the premium remains due after the delay expires.

Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company: To help the nearly 27,000 AFGE members who currently have a policy with the company during this government shutdown, the company “will keep the policy-in-force by waving the cost of insurance charges for the next 30 days.”. Policies beginning with the letter “Y” call: 844-800-9146, all other policies call: 888-513-8797

For Relief and Assistance

Rent-A-Center(Benefits Plus Membership): If your account was up to date at the time of furlough and you are a part of Benefits Plus, and may be eligible for a payment waiver based on your state: “Involuntary Unemployment Payment Waiver: Losing a job is hard, and making payments while unemployed is even harder. Fortunately, your Membership waives your payments when you are involuntarily unemployed. Whether you were fired, laid off, suspended, or are out of work due to a labor dispute or strike, your payments are covered for up to four (4) months, up to $1,000, or when you’re able to return to work.

National Freebie Offers
U.S. Office of Personnel Management | Federal employees may be eligible for unemployment compensation administered by state unemployment insurance agencies. Eligibility is determined by state law.

USAA
Offering deferments for all loans and credit card payments