Financial tips for federal workers during government shutdown
On Friday, nearly 800,000 federal workers will miss their second paycheck since the partial government shutdown started more than a month ago. According to a career survey almost 80 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.
Certified Financial Planner and CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger shared some financial tips for federal workers struggling to get by as the shutdown persists -- with no end in sight:
Assess your necessary bills
First, put aside the money you need for the very basic, non-negotiable costs for things like food and medicine. If you don't have money to set aside, figure out how much money you'll need to cover these costs.
Call your creditors
Call everyone. Make sure you communicate with your creditors, including your utility company, student loan creditors, credit card company and even your landlord if you're not a homeowner. See if they'll stop the interest rate clock ticking, give you a break or waive any penalties you might incur. A number of big banks, including Chase, Wells Fargo and Bank of America are offering to waive fees for overdrafts or insufficient funds for workers whose income has been disrupted by the shutdown. In short, don't hide from your bills.
File for unemployment
Many federal workers are eligible to file for unemployment benefits. Some states impose a waiting period on people applying for unemployment benefits so the earlier you file, the better.Unfortunately, people who are called back to work without pay aren't eligible to file for unemployment benefits, the Labor Department has said.
Don't withdraw from retirement accounts
It might be tempting to withdraw from retirement accounts but you'll be subject to penalties (if you're under 59 ½ years old) and will also have to pay taxes on what you take out. Instead, look into borrowing against your retirement account. Federal law allows workers to borrow up to 50 percent of their Thrift Savings Plan account balance, with a maximum of $50,000.
Look into shutdown assistance programs
If you need to find a low- or no-interest loan, credit unions like Navy Federal Credit Union, USAA and U.S. Employees Credit Union are offering them to furloughed federal workers. For example, the Congressional Federal Credit Union offers a line of credit with a rate of 0 percent for the first 60 days. The rate on the remaining balance after that is 4 percent.
