Assistance to reduce the impact of the government shutdown on Airmen, Guardians, civilians and their families is available through various means.
Those experiencing financial difficulties should contact their chain of command, who can provide more information on the financial aid organizations below.
I. Military & Family Readiness Center (M&FRC)
Need assistance during the shutdown and unsure where to start? Contact your First Sergeant or stop by the M&FRC.
Services: Provide confidential counseling to service members, spouses, military couples and non-remarried surviving spouses on or off the installation in person and by phone or video. They also provide group briefings and topic-specific presentations to the military community.
II. Financial Assistance: Banks, Credit Unions & Others Offering Help The resources listed below are not all-inclusive. Additional organizations may also be offering government shutdown relief programs and support. Reach out to landlords, mortgage companies, auto lenders, utility providers, and your bank to inquire about hardship programs and payment deferrals during the government shutdown.
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
USAA (Military & Civilian Federal Employees)
Navy Federal (Military & Civilian Federal Employees)
PenFed Credit Unition (Civilian Federal Employees)
First Command (Military & Civilian Federal Employees)
The Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA) – Resources for Federal Civilian Employees (Civilian Employees) including Federal Hardship Loans
Military Star Card Members – Assistance on Commissary Purchases (New & Current Card Holders)
USA Cares (Military)
State Unemployment Compensation (Civilian Federal Employees)
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children Program)
III. Military & Civilian Support Resources
Employee Assistance Program (Eligibility Below)
Military and Family Life Counselor (EAFB Adult MFLC)
Military ONESOURCE
Edwards Chapel
Mental Health
► Compensation
The Military Leaders Economic Security Toolkit, located on the Military OneSource website, offers information and support. The site is updated regularly to reflect challenges and policy changes related to economic security.
► Unemployment Benefits
Furloughed employees are eligible to apply for unemployment benefits, but excepted employees working on a full-time basis are generally not eligible. Employees who wish to file should do so with the Unemployment Office for the state where the employee worked (i.e., last official duty station prior to furlough). Please be advised that when employees receive retroactive pay they will be required to pay back any unemployment benefits received in accordance with State law. For more information, see OPM guidance and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees.
► Personal Financial Readiness
The Military and Family Readiness Center personal financial readiness program sustains and improves financial literacy and readiness by offering information, education, training and free personal financial counseling to Airmen, Guardians and their families. The DAF has also increased the number of Personal Financial Managers available to assist and enhance financial readiness and money management skills for members and their families.
The Air Force Aid Society continues to support emergent needs such as basic living expenses (e.g., food, rent/mortgage, utilities), vehicle expenses (e.g., payments, repairs, insurance) and childcare costs. Airmen and Guardians can submit requests through local Military and Family Readiness Centers and Airman and Family Readiness Centers.
If Airmen, Guardians or their families are not near an aid organization, they may seek financial assistance from the Red Cross.
Several banking institutions, such as USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union and Marine Federal Credit Union, have been known to advance military pay to their customers during government shutdowns. Contact your bank to inquire about their policies for situations like these.
► Food Insecurity
First sergeants and Military and Family Readiness Centers assist Airmen, Guardians and their families in need of food security-related grants and loans with referrals to programs such as U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Federal Subsistence Supplemental Allowance program and the Air Force Aid Society.
The FY22 National Defense Authorization Act established a Basic Needs Allowance. The BNA Program provides supplemental income for military members and dependents whose gross household income falls below 200% of federal poverty guidelines.
► TRICARE
In response to the ongoing possibility of a government shutdown, the Defense Health Agency has authorized its TRICARE contractors to continue delivering health care to the 9.4 million beneficiaries of TRICARE. TRICARE beneficiaries seeking medical care from private providers should feel no significant effects. Care at military hospitals and clinics would remain largely unaffected. The TRICARE website includes current information about the impact of the shutdown on TRICARE health plans and military hospitals and clinics.
► Overseas and Remote Commissaries
Check status of local commissaries to determine the status of your local store. During a shutdown some non-appropriated fund services may continue to operate. Check with your local installation’s website to determine which services will remain open in your area. If able, plan ahead and minimize its impact on day-to-day routine.
Contingency plans for federal government agencies available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/agency-contingency-plans/
► Additional Helpful Links
CONTINGENCY PLAN GUIDANCE FOR CONTINUATION OF ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS IN THE ABSENCE OF AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS AFPC TOTAL FORCE SERVICE CENTER U.S. OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
In the event of work furlough due to government shutdown, please refer to this page as a resource. Future updates will be pushed out through the Edwards AFB app and Facebook site.
Update: For base residents: Mayroad will delay transfer of rent from on-base residents who receive basic housing allowance, if BAH is interrupted, until residents receive their monthly BAH.
Additionally, Air Force Child and Youth Programs childcare fees will not be collected from families unable to use child development centers or school age centers due to either furlough or parents not receiving government pay as a result of a possible shutdown.
Operating status of base facilities, should there be a shutdown, are listed here:
Please note: not all base support services may be available at this time. Closures and availability subject to change.
Helping Agencies Directory