Government Shutdown Resources For Federal Workers In Maryland

MARYLAND — The partial government shutdown — now the longest in U.S. history — has left some 800,000 federal workers without pay or assurance about what will happen if the political impasse drags on.

To help alleviate some of the financial burden, restaurants and gyms are offering discounted specials, banks are rolling out assistance programs, and the state of Maryland is granting reduced or suspended payments for impacted residents.

Patch has rounded up a list of resources and posted it below.

Bank Assistance Programs

Ally Financial
In a Jan. 18 press release, Ally Financial announced it was expanding its assistance program to provide help and resources to impacted customers. Aid will be provided on a case-by-case basis. Expanded benefits include:

• Refunds of transaction fees
• Refunds of non-sufficient funds fees
• CD early withdrawal penalty waivers
• Expedited check fee waivers
• Wire fee waivers
• Late charge waivers
• Payment extensions

Bank of America
Bank of America's Client Assistance Program is available to customers affected by the partial government shutdown. For help, call the priority assistance phone line at 844-219-0690. For more personalized assistance, you can schedule an appointment with a specialist.

Citibank
Citibank offers a range of resources for customers. To find out more, call Citibank at the number below. You can also find the bank's contact information on the back of your card, on your bill statement, or in the CitiMobile App.

• Citi Cards: 1-800-950-5114 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-325-2865)
• Citibank: 1-888-248-4226 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-945-0258)
• CitiMortgage: 1-800-283-7918 (TTY/TDD: United States: 711, Puerto Rico: 1-866-280-2050); (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST)

Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo recently set up a customer assistance line. Call 800-219-9739 to speak with a team member. You can also visit any of the bank's branches for help.

TD Bank
Customers who are federal employees, contractors, or get federal benefits are eligible for the TD Cares Customer Assistance Program. The program's benefits will extend to approved customers until they receive their regular government pay, according to TD Bank. To learn more, click here.

M&T Bank
For help and resources, contact M&T Bank:

• Personal Checking and Deposit Customers: 1-800-724-2440 or visit your nearest branch
• Mortgage Customers: 1-800-724-1633
• Loan, Credit Line and Credit Card Customers: 1-800-724-2525
• Business Banking Customers: 1-800-724-6070

PNC Bank
"PNC is prepared to waive monthly service fees and take other appropriate actions for government employees who are experiencing financial difficulty due to the shutdown," the bank said in a Jan. 11 press statement. "PNC also makes available several forms of financing that may assist customers with meeting short-term financial needs."

Call a PNC customer service representative at 1-888-762-2265 (7 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday – Friday; 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday).

SunTrust Bank
Aid is given on a client-by-client basis. Contact SunTrust Bank for more information:

Consumer Lending and Credit Card Support: 844-395-5042
Mortgage Support Call Payment Solutions: 800-443-1032
All other requests: 800.SUNTRUST (800-786-8787)

EagleBank
Contact your relationship manager or visit an EagleBank branch for further assistance. You can also call one of these numbers:

Questions regarding an existing account: 301-986-1800 (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Online Banking support from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.: 301-628-4708
ATM and Debit Card support: 1-866-318-7727 (24 hours)
24/7 TeleBank: 1-800-364-8313 (to find information about accounts, check interests, transfer funds, find branch locations, telephone numbers, and branch hours)

BB&T Bank
Impacted customers should reach out to their local branch to discuss payment extensions of fee waivers. You can also call the following numbers:

• Personal Loans (DRL/DF): 800-222-1913
• Mortgages: 800-827-3722, then press 9
• Credit Cards: 800-289-6385
• General Questions and Concerns: 800-BANK BBT (800-226-5228)

*Not all banks are included in this list. To learn more about financial assistance programs, contact your financial institution.

Utilities

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) has suspended all water service shutoffs. In addition, the company will waive late fees and work with customers impacted by the partial government shutdown. To learn more, call 301-206-4001.

PEPCO
PEPCO will waive late fees. Customers can call PEPCO to set up budget billing or change bill dates. The company also created a $50,000 matching grant. Call 1-800-643-3768 to learn more.

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) customers who are concerned about payments should call 1-800-685-0123. You can also learn more by clicking here.

Washington Gas
Washington Gas offers several payment plans and services for customers affected by the government shutdown. Call 1-844-WASHGAS or click here for more details.

*Not all utility companies are included in this list. To learn more about financial assistance programs, contact your utility company.

Cellphone Carriers

Verizon Wireless
"We are waiving late fees and agent assist fees for federal government employees directly impacted for the duration of the shutdown," Nancy Clark, senior vice president of customer service at Verizon, said.

To use Verizon's self-service tools or speak with a financial services representative for more help:

Support with wireless: 1-866-266-1445.
Assistance with residential home service: 1-800-VERIZON.

You can also click here for more information.

AT&T
"For our customers affected by the shutdown, you are eligible for flexible payment options to keep your service running. Just because the government shut down, doesn’t mean that your phone, TV, and internet should stop working too," AT&T said in a statement.

For more information, click here.

Sprint
Those seeking short-term financial solutions can call Sprint Customer Care at 888-211-4727 or go online to chat with a Care representative.

T-Mobile
Customers who need short-term account assistance can work with a T-Mobile Customer Care representative. Options include flexible payment and payment deferrals. Call T-Mobile Customer Care (611 from a T-Mobile device or 1-877-746-0909 from any phone) for help.

*Not all companies are included in this list. To learn more about financial assistance programs, contact your provider.

Pet Help

Bark!
A government employee ID can get you a free bag of pet food. Click here to learn more.

Baltimore Humane Society

The Baltimore Humane Society and Safeway have partnered to help federal employees feed their pets during the government shutdown. The shelter in Reisterstown will provide a month's supply of pet food to each person with a federal employee ID.

The food will be distributed through the Bmore Kind Pet Food Bank, which is located at the Baltimore Humane Society on Nicodemus Road.

Click here to learn more.

Maryland Legal Aid

Free legal assistance for qualified applicants, including foreclosure assistance, landlord-tenant, and debt collection issues (most non-criminal law matters). Call 410-972-2700 / 800-666-8330
or click here for more information.

State Payment Relief

Comptroller Peter Franchot on Wednesday announced a plan to provide financial relief to impacted federal workers unsure when their next paycheck will arrive.

Federal contractors, furloughed employees, and those working without pay currently on payment plans with the state of Maryland may be granted reduced or even suspended payments while the shutdown continues, Franchot's office said Jan. 15.

"The longer this government shutdown lasts, the more financial hardship it is causing federal workers, some of whom may never get repaid," said Franchot in a news release. "My agency recognizes that Marylanders affected by this prolonged impasse face a greater burden to make ends meet and to fulfill their tax obligations."

The Comptroller's Office will help federal workers with personal income liabilities and other outstanding tax obligations. As specific circumstances vary, each request will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Affected federal workers, including federal contractors and federal employees working without pay, who may have outstanding Maryland tax obligations, should contact the Comptroller of Maryland's Ombudsman's Office via email at ombudsman@comp.state.md.us or call 410-260-4020.

To assist taxpayers, an email address (govshutdownrelief@comp.state.md.us) has been created to receive specific shutdown-related inquiries.

Other Government Shutdown Coverage

• Government Shutdown Freebies, Deals For Federal Workers In DMV
• Airbnb Offers Program For MD Federal Workers Impacted By Shutdown
• Government Shutdown Costs MD $778M In Wages, Tax Help For Workers
• Resources For Federal Workers Being Offered In Montgomery County
• Free Pet Food For Federal Employees At Baltimore Humane Society
• Meal Assistance In Howard County Schools Offered Amid Shutdown
• Federal Government Shutdown Help For Families In Anne Arundel

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