Montgomery County Government, Partners, and Nonprofits Offer Additional Services to Assist Furloughed Workers during the Partial, Federal Government Shutdown

For Immediate Release: Friday, January 11, 2019

Montgomery County established a new web portal where federal employees and contractors who live in the County, and who are impacted by the partial federal government shutdown, can go to find assistance provided by various organizations throughout the County.  The web address is montgomerycountymd.gov/shutdown.

“It is imperative that we do what we can to help the people affected by this failure of government,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “I applaud the State government, County Councilmembers, departments, partner agencies, businesses, utilities, nonprofits, and community and elected leaders in neighboring jurisdictions, who are doing whatever they can to help alleviate the stress of this unacceptable situation.”

By accessing the web portal visitors will be able to find information about various programs and opportunities that may ease some of the financial strain including such as the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission’s decision to suspend all water service shutoffs to ensure safe, clean water continues to flow to customer’s homes. Additionally, WSSC, serving 1.8 million residents in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties will waive late fees and work one-on-one with customers impacted by the shutdown to establish convenient payment plans.

“As bills are mounting each week for many of our residents, the Council wants everyone to know that resources are available to help furloughed federal employees and those who have been detrimentally impacted by the shutdown including small business owners and contractors,” said Council President Nancy Navarro. “It is abhorrent and unconscionable that 800,000 federal government employees and all of the contractors and business owners that rely on the federal government are being held hostage over the president’s demands to build a $5.7 billion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Montgomery County remains open for business and we join with Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and our nonprofit partners to support our residents.”  

If you are a federal employee or contractor in Maryland and have been furloughed as a result of the federal shutdown, you may file your claim online using the Federal Civilian Employee Application for Benefits or you may file a claim by calling 410-853-1700 or contact an unemployment insurance claim center.

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Release ID: 19-014
Media Contact: Public Information Office 240-777-6507