Financial resources for furloughed feds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm split on this. I'm glad that there are resources available for people who need them.

On the other hand, I've been reading a lot of articles lately about how so many feds are out of money and need the government to reopen so they can get another paycheck to eat and pay rent. If you are living paycheck to paycheck as a Fed you are doing something very wrong.

-Fed who saved for (lots of) rainy days and doesn't need assistance

You and people like you are the #1 problem with this country - people with a decided lack of empathy. I don't know if the lack of empathy is because of a failing with our society, our educational system, or what, but it is rampant, and it needs to be eradicated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would absolutely get an outside job -- but I am prohibited by ethics rules from getting an outside job that relates to my federal job (practicing law), and no temp job outside what I do is going to make up for the lost income. So what is my option? This is not like when someone is laid off and immediately can go seek another full time job. We do not know when the furlough will end, and prospective employers seeking to hire someone long term know this.

In any event, I am being designated as essential and going back next week, and will have to work without being paid. How am I supposed to get a full time job while I am working a full time job?

You would do what so many low wage workers in the US do - you'd take ANY job in order to bring in income. And yes, people do that after working a full-time job during the day.

This narrow minded focus of if I can’t make my 100k salary I just can’t do anything is why you get snotty posts like the PP who said all Feds should have savings.

A furloughed Fed attorney is not an attractive candidate for area businesses. It’s not worth the training to bring PP on board, knowing it’s temporary. Not to mention that area businesses probably are ramping down after seasonal hiring and fewer foot traffic from Feds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does the rest of the world do when they don’t get a pay check, get a job, sell stuff make ends meet however you need to.

As a federal employee, it's damn difficult to "just get another job while in furlough." You have to get a job that doesn't conflict with official duties, AND generally, to do so, you have to get prior permission, which is red tape and paperwork done by people who may not even be there right now. Further, since we could go back tomorrow, who hires that person? Don't know if you didn't know that or are being purposefully ignorant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the rest of the world do when they don’t get a pay check, get a job, sell stuff make ends meet however you need to.

As a federal employee, it's damn difficult to "just get another job while in furlough." You have to get a job that doesn't conflict with official duties, AND generally, to do so, you have to get prior permission, which is red tape and paperwork done by people who may not even be there right now. Further, since we could go back tomorrow, who hires that person? Don't know if you didn't know that or are being purposefully ignorant.

And yes, working retail could be a conflict for certain regulatory lawyers.

[Anonymous]

So let me get this straight -- folks who are essential and working their full time federal jobs (50+ hours a week, particularly since we are operating with a skeleton staff) are supposed to go get ANOTHER full time job that doesn't begin to provide the same compensation, all because politicians are throwing a tantrum? And we're supposed to convince a prospective employer that we are willing to keep said job once the shutdown ends? Are you kidding me?

Also, many in LE are not allowed to work outside jobs.

You are out of touch with reality if you think this is an acceptable solution. Open the G-D government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm split on this. I'm glad that there are resources available for people who need them.

On the other hand, I've been reading a lot of articles lately about how so many feds are out of money and need the government to reopen so they can get another paycheck to eat and pay rent. If you are living paycheck to paycheck as a Fed you are doing something very wrong.

-Fed who saved for (lots of) rainy days and doesn't need assistance

Really? Are you a GS 9, a TSA agent, or perhaps a GS 14 with a sick spouse and a family? Your judgmental attitude is offputting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm split on this. I'm glad that there are resources available for people who need them.

On the other hand, I've been reading a lot of articles lately about how so many feds are out of money and need the government to reopen so they can get another paycheck to eat and pay rent. If you are living paycheck to paycheck as a Fed you are doing something very wrong.

-Fed who saved for (lots of) rainy days and doesn't need assistance

Not helpful.
At my place of employment, most of the feds who are furloughed are the lower paid feds who aren't paid from industry fees. And all the contractors. There is no way these feds and other workers make enough money to save and live in the DC metro. I feel bad for them, not everyone who works in the DC metro is a GS 11 and up, and many have families. You should be ashamed of yourself pp.

There are several banks and financial institutions trying to offer options:
https://m.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2019/01/feds-facing-financial-hardships-during-shutdown-have-some-options-relief/153914/

OPM sample letters for creditors
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/423060-opm-tweets-sample-letters-for-furloughed-federal-employees-dealing-with

A couple restaurants in DC are offering free food
https://wtop.com/local/2019/01/shutdown-specials-dc-restaurants-offer-deals-to-furloughed-government-workers/

Restaurants feeding furloughed feds in other parts of the US:
https://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/article223872010.html

C’mon Capital One, you have a massive presence here!

[Anonymous]

Yes, check the link in the prior message.

Anonymous wrote:Any idea if TSP loans are an option? I need to start looking into this if this goes on more than three paychecks.

[Anonymous]

After this is over, I am switching all of our banking to Navy Federal, plus curtailing spending until we have a robust emergency fund. I am never going to feel this kind of panic again. NEVER.

In the past week I have:
- Sold my grandmother's silver on eBay
- Considered selling my engagement and wedding rings
- Collected scrap metal and plan to take it to the scrap yard
- Strongly considered whether I would be worth more dead to my family, and Googled whether FEGLI covers suicide and operates down a shutdown (yes after two years, and yes). I would never do it because I have no relatives to take care of my kids, but the thought was alarming.

Politicians have NO IDEA the kind of stress this put on working families. NONE. I wish they would stop with the brinksmanship and alarmist rhetoric.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After this is over, I am switching all of our banking to Navy Federal, plus curtailing spending until we have a robust emergency fund. I am never going to feel this kind of panic again. NEVER.

In the past week I have:
- Sold my grandmother's silver on eBay
- Considered selling my engagement and wedding rings
- Collected scrap metal and plan to take it to the scrap yard
- Strongly considered whether I would be worth more dead to my family, and Googled whether FEGLI covers suicide and operates down a shutdown (yes after two years, and yes). I would never do it because I have no relatives to take care of my kids, but the thought was alarming.

Politicians have NO IDEA the kind of stress this put on working families. NONE. I wish they would stop with the brinksmanship and alarmist rhetoric.

Why are you googling it if you’d never do it? So you can say you googled it?

[Anonymous]

To try to be helpful, I’ve heard that amazon hires quickly and has flexible schedules. I also think Uber or similar services may be an option for short term work, assuming your agency permits it. I’d also check nextdoor app for people needing short term help, for example with household projects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm split on this. I'm glad that there are resources available for people who need them.

On the other hand, I've been reading a lot of articles lately about how so many feds are out of money and need the government to reopen so they can get another paycheck to eat and pay rent. If you are living paycheck to paycheck as a Fed you are doing something very wrong.

-Fed who saved for (lots of) rainy days and doesn't need assistance

You and people like you are the #1 problem with this country - people with a decided lack of empathy. I don't know if the lack of empathy is because of a failing with our society, our educational system, or what, but it is rampant, and it needs to be eradicated.

You and people like you are the #1 problem with this country- people who lack the fortitude to be self sufficient. I don't know if the lack of fortitude was a failing of your parents, your peers or what, but it is rampant, and it needs to be eradicated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also concerned about this. We have an emergency fund, but it's not that big given student loans, daycare costs, and paying out of pocket for IVF (this type of infertility treatment is not covered under any FEHB plan). I am pregnant in my third trimester so am not physically able to wait tables, and am barred by ethics rules from taking a desk job in my field. Anyone in my stage of life is going to be challenged by missed paychecks.

This is us too, except instead of IVF we purchased a house last year that needed much more work than we’d anticipated, so we dipped further than planned into our emergency fund and took on more debt than expected. We’ve been more focused on paying off debt than building the ER fund beyond a month’s expenses. I have a privileged life, but it’s expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the rest of the world do when they don’t get a pay check, get a job, sell stuff make ends meet however you need to.

As a federal employee, it's damn difficult to "just get another job while in furlough." You have to get a job that doesn't conflict with official duties, AND generally, to do so, you have to get prior permission, which is red tape and paperwork done by people who may not even be there right now. Further, since we could go back tomorrow, who hires that person? Don't know if you didn't know that or are being purposefully ignorant.

And it’s not like you’re immediately paid your first week of a new job. It’s been a long time since I started a new position, but I recall having to wait 3 weeks for my first paycheck if I started in the middle of a pay period, or because it took time to get “in the system.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm split on this. I'm glad that there are resources available for people who need them.

On the other hand, I've been reading a lot of articles lately about how so many feds are out of money and need the government to reopen so they can get another paycheck to eat and pay rent. If you are living paycheck to paycheck as a Fed you are doing something very wrong.

-Fed who saved for (lots of) rainy days and doesn't need assistance

GFYS

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