As the federal government shutdown enters its 21st day, lawmakers remain at an impasse over a spending bill, leaving many affected individuals seeking financial assistance.

In an interview with the Washington Business Journal, MD|DC Credit Union Association CEO John Bratsakis noted,”We’re hearing from our credit unions that there’s a significant uptick in requests for mortgage and auto loan deferments, paycheck advances and skip-a-pay options. What really stands out this time is the deep sense of uncertainty members are feeling compared to during previous shutdowns.”

Credit unions should also be aware of several key dates that could further impact federal workers.

Here are some upcoming dates to keep in mind:

• October 24- Next Paycheck for Federal Employees
  • Federal employees, including those furloughed and those working without pay, are set to miss their first full paycheck on October 24. These employees also received only partial pay earlier this month.
• October 31- Next Military Paycheck
  • The administration used $8 billion in unused fiscal year 2025 research and development funds to ensure that 1.3 million active-duty service members received their October 15 paychecks. Lawmakers have expressed uncertainty about whether a similar action will be possible for the next pay period on October 31. 
• October 31 and November 5- Congressional Staffer Paychecks
  • Senate staff are paid twice monthly, on the 5th and 20th, and will miss their first full paycheck today, October 20. House staff are paid once per month, at the end of the month, and could miss their October paycheck entirely if no resolution is reached, with the next payment not arriving until after Thanksgiving.  

If your credit union would like to be added to the Association’s Federal Shutdown Resource Center, please contact Michelle Byrnie-Parker at mparker@mddccua.org. Please include a brief description and link to financial relief programs.