Maryland Workers Impacted by the Federal Government Shutdown
On October 1st, Governor Wes Moore announced a series of additional actions to help Marylanders impacted by the federal shutdown. These actions reinforce the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to supporting Marylanders. This webpage outlines resources available to impacted federal employees and contractors.
Learn more about Governor Moore’s Oct. 1st announcement
- Unemployment Insurance: Unemployment insurance (UI) is available to eligible Marylanders, including federal workers impacted by a government shutdown.
- 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.
- Furloughed employees or federal contractors—who are not working and are not being paid—may be eligible for state unemployment insurance benefits.
Individuals who are found eligible can receive up to $430 in weekly benefits (pre-tax).
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.
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.
- Housing Protections: An involuntarily furloughed federal, state, or local government employee at risk of eviction or foreclosure has protections under law and can ask the court to temporarily pause the eviction or foreclosure during the shutdown.
- According to statute, these protections only apply to federal employees and not federal contractors.
- Federal employees are protected even if they are required to work during a shutdown. To be eligible, the federal employee must:
- be a current federal government employee,
- currently live in the property at risk of eviction or foreclosure,
- be unpaid during the shutdown, and
- show up to any scheduled court hearing and ask the judge to pause the eviction or foreclosure.
- Federal employees may be asked to provide evidence that they are a current federal employee and have been involuntarily furloughed. Evidence could include:
- Federal government ID badge,
- most recent paystub, or
- an email or letter telling you that you are furloughed.
- Federal employees can ask the judge what evidence will satisfy the court and can ask for more time to gather evidence the court requests.
- The court will decide how long is reasonable to pause the eviction or foreclosure. Courts can only allow the pause to last 30 days beyond the end of the shutdown unless the court agrees there’s a good reason for it to last longer.
- Visit Maryland’s website for Maryland workers impacted by recent federal actions to view additional housing resources.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Protections only cover electric and gas. They do not cover municipal water.
- 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.
- BGE: 800-685-0123
- Pepco: 202-833-7500
- Delmarva Power: 800-375-7117
- 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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Loan program information and the application will be available beginning October 6th at mdol.submittable.com/submit.
- For support, applicants can email MDshutdownloan@submittable.com or call 410-849-6424 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday) beginning October 6th.
- 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.
- Approximately 1 in 4 federal civilian employees are veterans. In addition to the other identified resources, there are services designed specifically for veterans. Visit Maryland’s website for Maryland workers impacted by recent federal actions to view resources for veterans.