A practical guide to protect your finances, understand the process, and access local resources before a government shutdown. This guide is specifically tailored for federal employees in North Carolina, but many resources apply nationally.
Understanding a Government Shutdown
A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass a budget or continuing resolution to fund federal operations.
- Most federal employees are furloughed and must stop working.
- Excepted (“essential”) employees continue working without pay until funding resumes.
- Back pay is guaranteed once the shutdown ends under 31 U.S.C. § 1341(c)(2).
Key FAQs
Q: Will I get paid during the shutdown?
A: No. You will not be paid while the shutdown is active, but you will receive full back pay on the earliest possible day after funding is restored.
Q: How long could the shutdown last?
A: There’s no way to predict. Shutdowns have ranged from 1 day to over a month. Prepare financially for 4–6 weeks without pay, just in case.
Q: Can I work during the shutdown?
A: No. You cannot check email, attend meetings, or do any work unless officially designated as ‘excepted’. You may only perform minimal activities like setting up out-of-office messages and securing files.
Q: Will my health benefits continue?
A: Yes. FEHB health coverage continues. Your premiums will be deducted retroactively once pay resumes.
Q: Can I collect unemployment benefits?
A: Possibly. Rules vary by state. In North Carolina, visit https://www.NCWorks.gov/. Note: You may have to repay unemployment benefits after receiving back pay.
Q: Can I take another job during the shutdown?
A: Yes, but some jobs require ethics approval. Jobs usually not requiring approval include retail, babysitting, tutoring, barista, or bartending. You must be ready to return to EPA immediately when the shutdown ends.
Q: What happens to my pre-planned leave?
A: All leave is canceled during the shutdown. After the shutdown, adjust your People Plus timesheet.
Q: What about payroll deductions (e.g., union dues, retirement, TSP)?
A: These will pause during the shutdown. Notify creditors to prevent missed or late payments.
Q: What if I was scheduled to retire during the shutdown?
A: Your retirement date remains effective, but processing will not occur until after the shutdown ends.
20 Steps to Prepare for a Government Shutdown
A. Financial Preparation
- Review your budget – Separate essential vs. non-essential expenses.
- Build an emergency fund – Aim for 1–2 weeks of living expenses, if possible.
- Pause non-essential spending – Delay unnecessary purchases or trips.
- Contact creditors early – Many offer hardship or forbearance programs.
- Prioritize bills – Focus on housing, utilities, food, and transportation.
- Check payroll deductions – Know what will pause during the shutdown.
- Explore unemployment – Check eligibility at https://www.NCWorks.gov/.
- Ask about community aid – Some nonprofits provide temporary emergency grants.
- Contact TSP for short-term loan (if eligible) – https://www.TSP.gov/
B. Food & Essential Needs
- Locate food banks – https://www.FeedingAmerica.org/, https://www.FoodPantries.org/
- NC residents: Dial 211 for local resources.
- Apply for SNAP or WIC – https://www.NCDHHS.gov/
- Find mutual aid groups – Local churches or nonprofits may offer groceries or gift cards.
C. Communication & Documentation
- Print out Leave and Earnings Statements (LES) from https://www.EmployeeExpress.gov/.
- Provide your personal contact info to AFGE to receive updates.
- AFGE Council 238 Updates: https://www.AFGE238.org/
- Stay in contact with your supervisor – Confirm your furlough or excepted status.
- Update out-of-office messages – Notify internal and external contacts.
- Save key notices & documents – Furlough letter, pay stubs, HR notices.
- Notify mortgage, landlord, and utility companies – Ask about hardship or payment deferral programs.
- Stay updated via AFGE Local 3347 – https://www.OfficialAFGE238.org/
D. Employment & Career Readiness
- Consider temporary work – Tutoring, rideshare, retail, etc. (Get ethics approval if needed).
- Stay ready to return to work – Keep EPA equipment charged and accessible.
- Update your resume & job profiles:
- NCWorks: https://www.NCWorks.gov/
- USAJobs: https://www.USAJobs.gov/
- Join NC: https://www.NC.gov/
E. Mental Health & Wellbeing
- Take care of yourself – Shutdowns are stressful.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988.
- EPA Employee Assistance Program (EAP): 1-888-635-3202 or https://care.espyr.com (Org ID: USEPA)
- Engage with union solidarity groups & local support networks.
Key Websites & Resources
| Need Resource | Website |
| Union Updates | https://www.OfficialAFGE238.org |
| Share Contact with AFGE | https://www.AFGE238.org |
| NC Unemployment | https://www.NCWorks.gov |
| National Career Help | https://www.CareerOneStop.org |
| Food Banks | https://www.FeedingAmerica.org |
| Food Pantries | https://www.FoodPantries.org |
| SNAP/WIC NC DHHS | https://www.NCDHHS.gov |
| Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) | https://www.LIHEAP.org |
| Financial Counseling | https://www.NFCC.org |
| TSP Loans | https://www.TSP.gov |
| Print LES Statements | https://www.EmployeeExpress.gov |
More Resources
Find out how to apply for unemployment benefits in your state:
https://www.usa.gov/unemployment-benefits
Read the full EPA Contingency Plan:
https://www.epa.gov/lapse/agency-contingency-plans-event-lapse-appropriations
Read the OPM shutdown guidance:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/guidance-for-%20shutdown-furloughs.pdf
Find your member of Congress:
https://whoismyrepresentative.com/
Read AFGE news and updates:
https://www.afge.org/
https://afge238.org/
AFL-CIO State Resources for Shutdown-Impacted Federal Employees and Contractors:
https://aflcio.org/about-us/programs/shutdown-resources-25
NC Gov Resources for Federal Workers:
https://www.des.nc.gov/federalworkers
Grants
Furlough Grants
Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA): https://feea.org/shutdown/ – FEEA-NARFE 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.
Financial Resources (Loans, Loan Relief. Companies Offering Temporary Payment Relief)
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
TSP allows for the suspension of loan payments when you go into non-pay status. They do not require documentation about your furlough currently. Missing one or two payments will not cause your loan to go into default. Log in to your account to check your status or simply call the Thrift Line at 1-877-968-3778.
Bank of America
Announced assistance available to furloughed Federal employees. Call the priority assistance line 844.219.0690.
Chase Bank
Chase today announced efforts to help its customers who are U.S. government employees affected by the U.S. government shutdown. Here’s the special line they set up 1-888-356-0023.
Congressional Federal Credit Union
For more information on our Relief Line of Credit or any of our assistance programs, contact our Member Service Representatives at 800-491-2328 or stop by one of our branch locations.
Fed Choice Federal Credit Union
They’re offering quite a few different options to assist – for existing and new members.
Interior Federal Credit Union
They’re offering a special loan for both member and non-member furloughed Federal workers. Net paycheck up to $15,000, interest free up to 30 days. Members may apply for a limit up to the equivalent of 2 net paychecks. More offers are available on the site or call 800-914-8619
Navy Federal Credit Union
These guys are offering a special loan program. Read the FAQs PDF from this link to see if you qualify or call 1-888-842-6328
PayPal
PayPal has made a very generous offer. They’ve allocated $25 million to fund interest-free cash advances to our furloughed Federal workers that need assistance right now. This is for both new and existing PayPal Credit customers. Minimum loan is $250 with a maximum cash advance of $500. Your account does need to be in good standing if you’re an existing PayPal Credit customer. Existing customers call 1-877-689-1975. For new accounts, apply here first, then after approval call 1-877-689-1975.
U.S. Bank
Will waive all late fees if you miss a mortgage payment due to the shutdown. Also mentioned they will defer first payment dates for new mortgages.
U.S. Employees Credit Union
USECU is also offering shutdown loans, but only until Tuesday, January 15th. Call (312) 922.5310 to get help.
SunTrust
SunTrust didn’t make a specific offer, but they did make a public announcement that they have programs in place to help clients affected by the shutdown.
Synchrony Bank
These guys handle store cards for Amazon, Lowes, Walmart, JCPenney, Chevron/Texaco, and many other large nationwide companies that you might do business with on a day-to-day basis. They are allowing affected customers to defer payments until after the shutdown. Contact them for more information.
Union Plus
For union members, there are a great number of options available if you’re with Union Plus. Call them at 800-472-2005 to ask about these offers: $300 Furlough Grant for eligible Union Plus credit card holders, Mortgage Assistance Loan & $300 Grant: payment grace period for your Union Plus Life and Accident Insurance, payment grace period for Union Plus Auto Insurance, and payment grace period for Union Plus Life and Accident Insurance.
Wells Fargo
They’ve got a few different options to help depending on the services you have with their bank.
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. Toyota Financial Services call 800-874-8822 and Lexus Financial Services call 800-874-7050.
Hyundai Capital
Hyundai will extend all Hyundai Capital auto loans and lease payments 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
Kia has announced they’re offering deferred payments of 30 days. If you’ve been affected by the current Government Shutdown and need assistance from Kia Finance, please contact us at 1-866-331-5632.
Ford Credit, GM Financial, & Mercedes-Benz Financial Services
It has been reported that these companies are among those providing qualified customers options such as payment deferrals, late fee waivers and special care lines to address their individual problems, though official announcements from these companies have not been released online.
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
USAA
Are offering deferments for all loans and credit card payments.
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.
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 you 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.”
Home Rental Costs Help
National Rental Home Council
Represents many of the nation’s largest operators of single-family rental homes. They’re offering deferred rent payment options with no late fees to any renter who has been furloughed.
OPM Sample Letters for Creditors and Mortgage Companies
https://www.va.gov/opa/docs/remediation-required/hra/Sample-Letters-for-Creditors-Mortgage-Companies.pdf – OPM created these sample letters for Federal workers to contact their landlords, mortgage lenders, and utilities, to request help during the shutdown.
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 premium remains due after 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.