Maryland Workers Impacted by the Federal Government Shutdown

• Unemployment Insurance: Marylanders who become unemployed through no fault of their own can apply for unemployment insurance benefits of up to $430 per week (pre-tax). 

• Furloughed federal employees: During the federal government shutdown, many furloughed federal employees applied for unemployment insurance through the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) program. If you received benefits through UCFE, please note that once you return to work you are no longer eligible for these benefits. To close your claim, you can stop filing weekly claim certifications or call 667-207-6520 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.) for assistance. When you receive your back pay, any unemployment insurance benefits you collected during the shutdown will need to be repaid. For details, see the Federal Employees: Furlough Repayment webpage.
  

• Local Food Pantries and Food Banks: Access the Maryland Department of Human Services website to find the nearest The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) provider or enter your zip code at the Maryland Food Bank, Capital Area Food Bank, and 211 Maryland website to locate the nearest food pantry or food bank.
  
• After school meal benefits for students: Maryland State Department of Education has begun working with local education agencies (LEAs) to increase awareness of the availability of current after school meal programs in communities across the state. Students currently approved for free meals under SNAP will continue to receive meal benefits for the duration of this school year. Students newly eligible and approved for SNAP benefits or who attend a school participating in the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) will also qualify for free school meals. Parents and guardians who are currently furloughed may use their current household income to complete a meal benefit application with their local school district.
  
• Maryland Access Point (MAP): The state's central resource for older adults and people with disabilities to connect directly to local food banks, senior center meal programs, utility assistance, and other critical supports. Connect with MAP by calling 1-844-MAP-LINK or by visiting their site for links to specialized supports and resources.

• 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.
  
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. 

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 

• Federal Shutdown Loan Program

The Federal Shutdown Loan Program application portal is currently closed and not accepting new applications. This program launched on October 6, 2025, in response to the federal government shutdown, to provide financial support to “excepted” (also called essential) federal employees who were required to work without pay during the shutdown. That shutdown has now concluded and we are no longer able to accept new applications for this program. However, MD Labor will continue to process all applications received prior to the end of the shutdown. For support, applicants can email MDshutdownloan@submittable.com or call 410-849-6424 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday). 

In the event of a future federal government shutdown, this program would relaunch, to provide $700 no-interest loans to excepted federal workers living in Maryland.

• 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.

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.

• Food, Cash, and Other Assistance
  
• Legal Resources and Federal Employment Rules & Regulations
  
• Mental Health Resources: Marylanders can access support 24/7 by contacting the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and additional services through Local Behavioral Health Authorities. 
  
• Transit Resources: The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) announced that MTA will provide free transit on MARC and Commuter Bus to federal workers who are required to report to work but aren’t being paid due to the government shutdown starting Friday, October 17 and continuing the length of the shutdown. Any individual with a federal ID can ride for free simply by showing their federal ID to the operator.
  
  In addition to these services, MTA will offer free rides to federal employees for core transit services including local buses, light rail, metro subway, and mobility/paratransit.
  
  In order to obtain these services, individuals need to have an active CharmPass account. CharmPass can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store.
  
  Federal employees should email mtacharmpass@mta.maryland.gov with Free Federal Transit in the subject line to request a monthly pass. The following information will be needed for each request:
  • Name
  • Email Address
  • CharmPass account number
  • Federal Agency Name/Address
  • Copy of federal employee identification card
    
    Once received and reviewed for compliance, a one-month pass will be loaded onto the CharmPass account within two business days for activation by the employee prior to travel. If the shutdown continues beyond 30 days of issuance of the monthly pass, MTA will load additional passes onto registered accounts.
    
    Mobility riders are eligible for 20 trip ticket packs. Mobility riders or their care provider are required to show the CharmPass app when boarding the mobility vehicle. Customers should continue to book their rides either by calling the Mobility reservation line at 410-764-8181 or online at mta.maryland.gov/mobility.
    
• Maryland Department of Disabilities Constituent Services Line: The Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD) operates a constituent services line to serve Marylanders by providing information and assistance to individuals as they navigate the human services system. During the federal government shutdown, the line will operate with enhanced monitoring to help connect constituents with available programs and services. MDOD constituent services staff can be reached at (410) 767-3660.