Furlough Advice and Resources Published Oct. 4, 2013 By Public Affairs 125FW Jacksonville, Fla. -- FANG Warriors, The following advice and resource information came from Renate S. Donghia, the 125th Fighter Wing Director of Psychological Health. Below you will find information regarding finances, coping with the stress of being furloughed and special offers for federal employees. If you find yourself in need you can contact Renate at Renate.Donghia.ctr@ang.af.mil or 904-741-7006. First, some do's and don'ts: DON'T PANIC. You will survive in better shape if you keep a level head and react with common sense. DON'T make a knee-jerk reaction of any kind. Take a wait-and-see attitude (but have a contingency plan). Congress may still solve the problem quickly. They usually do, or with only minimal disruption. DON'T worry that you may be evicted, or have your car repossessed or your credit ruined if you make payments late one time (or even two). Late payments aren't even reported until they're more than 30 days late. Evictions and repossessions don't happen until you've missed several payments (generally 3 or more). DON'T rush out to get a loan. There is no reason for you to take on additional debt. Just a reminder, it is now illegal to grant or seek a payday loan or a car title loan for military Service members, per FY2011 Military Authorization Act. Interest charged can be between 150-300% and can cause long term financial problems. It is recommended to contact your bank or credit union to ask if they are offering any special programs or services to Service members and other Government employees affected by the Shutdown. DO stay calm. Create a plan to carry your family through this crisis. Examine your expenses carefully, and see what you can slash till your paycheck comes through. If it's not essential to survival, it has to wait. DO be prepared to talk with your creditors and explain the situation. Tell them that your family survives on your military paycheck, and until it arrives, you will be unable to pay them. Promise them that as soon as you receive your paycheck, you will pay them. Then be sure you DO IT. You may want to write letters to landlords, creditors, utilities, telephone etc... A letter is better than a phone call and will create a permanent record for you and them. The VA Veterans Field Guide to Government Shutdown is document detailing important information on VA services that will be impacted, those that won't and important phone numbers to contact should a difficulty be encountered. Please note that the VA has recently stated that a shutdown lasting for more than a few weeks will affect benefits. http://www.stripes.com/polopoly_fs/1.243818.1380313602!/menu/standard/file/Field_Guide_20130927.pdf More resources... http://www.militaryfamily.org/feature-articles/government-shutdown.html Roger Wildermuth, spokesperson for USAA, provided the following statement: USAA is prepared to offer a zero-interest payroll advance loan to affected military members with existing direct deposit at USAA if military pay is interrupted by a government shutdown. We also have a number of other solutions, such as special payment arrangements, to help USAA members who receive government payments and find themselves in financial distress due to a shutdown. Scott Halliwell, a Certified Financial Planner practitioner with USAA, provides tips for how you can prepare for a potential government shutdown: USAA's 5 Tip to Prepare for Government Shutdown. Navy Federal Credit Union provided an update that they will cover direct deposit for active duty military members. "Our number one concern is our members and their families. That's why we're pledging to cover the direct deposits for our active duty members," said Cutler Dawson, Navy Federal president and CEO. "By covering their 15 October pay, our active duty members will not see a difference in their direct deposit amount--as if there were no shutdown." Dawson also noted that members should know that their 1 October direct deposit will be processed normally. (Information was obtained by Michele Townes of the Corporate Communications department.) Marine Federal Credit Union released the following information via their website: "Should a government shutdown take place, Marine FCU will post government employee payrolls for members with direct deposit. This includes active duty and retired military, Department of Defense appropriated and non-appropriated, social security, and disability." Service Credit Union: As per their website, they will automatically deposit the amount of your military or DOD GS pay based on the most recent amount you were paid. Reference: Service Credit Union First Command Financial Services: In the event of a government shutdown they are offering the following 4 options to their members; information was sent to us from Mark Leach, Media Relations. Link to full explanation of services is: First Command services for potential government shutdown 1. Loan Assistance 2. Penalty Free CD Withdrawals 3. Secured Lines of Credit 4. Special Handling of Credit Card Accounts Military OneSource 24/7 Call Center - You name it. We can help! 1-800-342-9647 www.MilitaryOneSource.com Military HOMEFRONT DoD programs, policies, news and events. www.MilitaryHOMEFRONT.dod.mil www.MilitaryINSTALLATIONS.dod.mil Wounded Warrior Resource Center Specialized support for wounded, ill and injured service members and their families 1-877-958-2233 / woundedwarriorproject.org USA Cares - Provides financial & advocacy support in time of need http://www.usacares.org/ Air Force Aide Society (AFSC) - www.afas.org Red Cross - www.redcross.org / 1-877-272-7337 NEED HELP PAYING BILLS: Find information on assistance programs, charity organizations, and other resources that will provide you with help paying your bills, mortgage and debt, show you how to save money, as well as provide some tips and ways to pay bills when money is tight. http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/index.html Sams Club Open to All Military Members While military commissaries are closed due to the Government Shutdown, Sam's Club is allowing all military members with a valid military ID card to shop without a Sam's Club membership. "In appreciation for the service that military personnel provide our members and communities, Sam's Club locations near military bases will waive membership requirements for military personnel, retirees and their families so they may continue saving on everyday goods and groceries," Sam's Club officials said in a statement on Thursday, 3 Oct 2013. Please check out the links below for more information. http://spousebuzz.com/blog/2013/10/free-military-sams-club-membership-shutdo wn-ends.html http://www.militaryavenue.com/Articles/FREE+Sams+Club+Membership+for+Militar y+During+Government+Shutdown-43624.aspx EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE ESGR - EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD & RESERVE Assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment www.esgr.mil Career One-Stop Centers (Dept of Labor) Local Veterans' Employment Representatives (LVER) and Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) counselors provide career and employment support for military service and family members at state employment offices. www.careeronestop.org 1-877-348-0502 MILSpouse (Department of Defense) Comprehensive resources that provide support, information and referrals for Military spouses seeking portable careers and employment opportunities. www.MILSpouse.org TurboTAP.org (Department of Defense) Employment hub, military friendly employers, transition assistance guides, checklists, decision support planning tools and benefit email alerts. www.TurboTAP.org Warriors to Work Program Job search assistance for wounded warriors transitioning to civilian jobs. https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org 1-877-TEAM-WWP Hero's to Hire - Offers career exploration tools, military-to-civilian skills translations, education and training resources. www.h2h.jobs Troops to Teachers - DoD program that helps eligible military personnel begin a new career as teachers in public schools where their skills, knowledge and experience are most needed. www.proudtoserveagain.com Troops to Teachers - DoD program that helps eligible military personnel begin a new career as teachers in public schools where their skills, knowledge and experience are most needed. www.proudtoserveagain.com