The U.S. government officially shut down as of 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 30, which means the most recent appropriations for the Department of War expired. “Military personnel will continue in a normal duty status, without pay, until such time as a continuing resolution or appropriations are passed by Congress and signed into law,” as per a statement on the War Department’s website. Military Families Magazine is compiling a list of resources and information to assist service members, veterans, federal workers and their families impacted by the shutdown. Please note, this is a list in progress and will be updated as new information is received.
First things first, military and retiree pay. You will notice your Oct. 1 pay was direct deposited as normal. The first pay period impacted by the shutdown will be the Oct. 15 pay period. A number of military credit unions and banks, branch aid societies, and non-profit organizations who support the military and veteran communities have announced how they are stepping up.
MILITARY CREDIT UNIONS AND BANKS
Please be sure to read eligibility and stipulations about how you may still be able to receive your pay from the below institutions, including some requirements to enroll in a program in advance of the next payday.
Navy Federal Credit Union: 0% interest loans up to $6,000, but the service member or federal worker must enroll in advance of their next payday
USAA: 0% interest loan equal to the amount of your net pay, from $500 to $6,000; must be paid back within 3 months and credit approval required
PenFed Credit Union: no-interest loan equal to the amount of your paycheck if your payroll is directly deposited into your PenFed checking account
First Command: interest-free payroll advances in the amount of direct deposit pay, must be repaid within three months
Marine Federal Credit Union: the Payroll Advancement Program offers first payroll following the shutdown to qualifying members.
BRANCH AID SOCIETIES
Air Force Aid Society: assistance available to help with emergency needs, such as food, gas, and other essentials.
Army Emergency Relief (AER): will provide rapid zero-interest loans to soldiers if the Oct. 15 payday is impacted (per their social media).
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA): will offer interest-free loans to help with important bills like rent, insurance and daycare. Coast Guard military and civilian employees are eligible to borrow up to their monthly Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) as needed.
Navy Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS): for active-duty Navy and Marine Corps service members and their families, NMCRS can help cover basic living expenses such as food, rent, utilities and other urgent needs resulting from the shutdown.
PROGRAMS
The Department of War released an update on Oct. 1 regarding the status of quality-of-life programs, along with a reminder that some specifics may vary at the local installation levels.
Base Exchanges: remain open.
Child Development Centers: remain open.
Commissaries: remain open.
Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) Schools: remain open, and as of reporting, its website states “DoDEA has received updated direction allowing extracurricular activities, including athletics and afterschool clubs, to be considered excepted activities during the current lapse in appropriations.”
MyCAA (My Career Advancement Account): All new requests for financial assistance are temporarily on hold. If a military spouse’s request for financial assistance was approved prior to Sept. 30, they may continue to attend classes.
FOOD INSECURITY
Stronghold Food Pantry
Stronghold Food Pantry is a nonprofit organization that supports military families facing food insecurity, and has seen a significant uptick in requests for support nationwide.
“We have already seen a sharp spike in requests for help in Colorado, Charleston, and here in Kansas, with appointment requests climbing rapidly,” explained Stronghold CEO Monica Bassett.
Bassett has been downloading applications and putting in grocery orders since before the shutdown, and has restocked the pantry with groceries, supplies and diapers.
“I remain hopeful that the government shutdown will soon come to a close —or that at the very least, language is passed to protect the pay of our military families— however, our team knows we must also prepare to be a supportive force through this uncertainty.”
In addition to the pantry’s weekly hours at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Stronghold’s volunteers are prepared to add additional open days and night shifts. While Stronghold does accept walk-ins, patrons can schedule an appointment online.
Families outside of the Kansas area can request assistance via their website. Stronghold Ambassadors across 20 states are armed with information and resources to support military families in their communities.
“We encourage military families to begin preparing now and arming themselves with vetted information and resources. According to the USDA, SNAP benefits will not be impacted, as they are funded through mandatory appropriations. While less than 1% of military families actually qualify for SNAP, they do qualify for WIC, so it is very important for military families to understand and know what to plan for. Military families currently utilizing WIC should begin checking in with their local WIC offices for updates. WIC is federally funded; however, it is state distributed, and availability may vary from state to state,” explained Bassett.
Stronghold is actively preparing to meet the growing need at their Fort Leavenworth, Kan., pantry with added fresh grocery options as well as additional volunteers standing by to add Open Pantry day and night shifts. For active-duty military families in the surrounding area (ex., Whiteman Air Force Base, Kansas City National Guard, Fort Riley), head to their website to sign up for the brick-and-mortar pantry. Stronghold does accept walk-in patrons.
“What we want military families to know is that they don’t have to face this uncertainty alone. Stronghold is here, and we stand ready to serve, support and strengthen our community with dignity and compassion,” Bassett said.
Visit the Stronghold website to request support, or if you would like to join Stronghold’s mission to help feed military families.
Feeding America
Feeding America: a nationwide network of food banks (not specific to only military families) that offers a search tool to find food pantries and meals programs by zip code.
