FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN RESOURCES

First Baptist Church, Inc., North Brentwood, MD

God is our refuge and strength,  an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1 New International Version

 It's a blessing that the federal government re-opened as of November 13, 2025. Since many persons have gone more than one month without pay, and it may take a while for things to get back in order, below are some resources that may be helpful as you adjust to the recent changes.

Disclaimer: The resources shared on this site are provided solely as a convenience to our community. Please verify all information directly with the appropriate agency or organization before relying on it.'

    • 2025 Shutdown Assistance Map (SAM) - Resources for Federal Workers

    • Virginia, Maryland leaders react to decision to only partially fund SNAP benefits

    • Capitol Area Food Bank – Providing food support to individuals and families in need.

    • Hyattsville: Tuesdays, noon–2 p.m. at No Limits Outreach Ministries (7721 Barlowe Rd)

    • North Bethesda: Wednesdays, 10 a.m.–11:30 a.m. at So What Else (6001 Executive Blvd)

    • Beltsville: Saturdays, 1 p.m.–2:30 p.m. at Linda Ben Foundation (10739 Tucker St)

      Please click here to see information of upcoming distributions. Check out the Maryland Food Bank to locate an open food bank near you and access information on the impacts of the government shutdown.

    • Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) – Members with established accounts and direct deposit may qualify for cash advances during the furlough period.

    • Truist Bank – Customers with direct deposit accounts may also be eligible for cash advances for the immediate future.

    • Utility Assistance (Maryland) – With a letter from your employer confirming furlough status, utility companies in Maryland are not interrupting services.

    • Mortgage Assistance – With a furlough verification letter, mortgage companies may move the current month’s payment to the end of the loan term without penalty.

    • Support for Families -School Meal Assistance: Breakfast and lunch programs are available for children of furloughed employees attending public schools. Please provide the child’s name and school information to access this support.

    • 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: 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: Here’s a full list of all shutdown assistance lines at Wells Fargo. They’ve got a few different options to help depending on the services you have with their bank.
      Furlough Grants

    • FEEA-NARFE: This is an awesome offer that every furloughed Federal worker needs to take advantage of. 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. To apply, visit the FEEA website.
      Thrift Savings Plan

    • TSP Plan News and Announcements: 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.

    • 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.
      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: 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: OPM created these 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: These guys have a nationwide network of 200 food banks. From those food banks, they have 60,000 partner pantries from which they can serve every community across the United States. This is an awesome resource, and they have already begun 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 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

    • Other Notable Mentions for Relief & 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 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.”

    • National Freebie Offers

      • U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Their fact sheet states that federal employees may be eligible for unemployment compensation administered by state unemployment insurance agencies. So, eligibility is determined by state law, not on the Federal level, which may work in your favor.
        USAA Are offering deferments for all loans and credit card payments.

  • FREE FOOD PANTRIES

    Supporting the needs of Prince Georgians impacted by SNAP disruptions!!

    "ELEVATE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY"
    Straight from Aisha N. Braveboy, Prince George's County Executive

    Service Centers Locations:
    Monday thru Friday
    8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

    North County - NEW
    (6505 Belcrest Rd., Hyattsville, MD 20782

    Central County
    (425 Brightseat Road,Landover, MD 20785)

    South County NEW
    4235 28th Ave., Temple Hills, MD 20748

    For more information on food pantries and assistance programs in the County contact: https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/social-services

    Additional Community Resources

    • Office of People’s Counsel – A public law office representing residents of Maryland and Washington, D.C., that can assist with utility interruption issues.

    • Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services (LARS) – Provides food and financial assistance to low-income and homeless individuals and families in northern Prince George’s County, including Laurel, Greenbelt, Beltsville, Berwyn Heights, Adelphi, Bladensburg, Hyattsville, and Riverdale.

      • Requirements: Name, email address, phone number, and ID.

      • Hours:

        • Pantry open Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

        • Evening hours Monday, 5:00–7:30 p.m.

        • Fresh Produce Fridays begin at 9:30 a.m. (until supplies last).

    • Anne Arundel County families, here are some local distribution sites in our district that may be helpful:

    • Kingdom Celebration Center (Odenton): Tuesdays, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. & Thursdays, 3–5 p.m. (8397 Piney Orchard Pkwy)

    • Grace Presbyterian Church (Crofton): 3rd Saturday of the month, 10 a.m.–Noon (2110 Priest Bridge Dr)

    • Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (Laurel): Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. (311 Laurel Ave)

    • For a full county list, please use this link: Anne Arundel Food Bank Pantry List.

  • Low cost counseling services

    Greenbelt Cares
    25 Crescent Road
    Greenbelt, MD  20770
    www.greenbeltmd.gov/239/Greenbelt-CARES
    301-345-6660

    College Park Youth and Family Services
    4912 Nantucket Road
    College Park, MD  20740
    240-487-3550

    District Heights Family & Youth Services Bureau
    6421 Atwood Street
    District Heights, MD  20747
    301-336-7600

    Bowie Youth & Family Services
    2614 Kenhill Drive
    Bowie, MD  20715
    301-809-3033

    Laurel Helping Hands Youth Services Bureau
    422 Montgomery Street
    Laurel, MD  20707
    240-294-1304

    Carroll County Youth Service Bureau
    59 Kate Wagner Road
    Westminster, MD  21157
    410-848-2500

    Light House
    60 Mellor Avenue
    Catonsville, MD  21228
    410-788-5438

    Oasis Behavioral Health Urgent Care
    175 Admiral Cochrane Dr., #110
    Annapolis, MD  410-760-9079

    The Stephen A. Cohen Military Family Clinic
    1420 Spring Street, #300
    Silver Spring, MD  20910
    240-847-7500

    Maryland Crisis Hotline:  #988

  • Arlington County

    Prince William County

    Fairfax County