Find out which services are offering extensions and payment plans, as well as municipal and state assistance for food purchases and other needs.
,
What is happening? Puerto Rican companies, agencies, organizations and banks are offering assistance, alternatives and payment plans to federal employees in Puerto Rico affected by the U.S. government shutdown, which on Wednesday reached 36 days and became the longest in the country's history.
The current shutdown stems from a congressional dispute over extending health care benefits (Obamacare), many of which expire next year and could raise costs for the public.
Why does it matter? Puerto Rico has about 21,000 federal employees working in national parks, U.S. agencies and other federal government services, though the exact number who have gone without pay during the shutdown is unknown. The shutdown is the result of a congressional deadlock over passage of the current fiscal year's budget, which began in October.
Suzanne Roig, secretary of the Departamento de la Familia, indicated that 1,600 federal employees who have continued working without pay attended a services fair on Oct. 20. Meanwhile, the Departamento del Trabajo y Recursos Humanos reported that about 400 have applied for unemployment benefits.
The longest government shutdown on record until now (35 days) occurred in late 2018, during President Donald Trump's first term. The third longest took place between Dec. 15, 1995, and Jan. 6, 1996, under the Clinton administration, for a total of 21 days.
📝 Find out about the entities and the assistance they offer:
Public services and government assistance
🚰 Water payment extension: The Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AAA) announced on Nov. 4 that it will offer a 60-day extension on drinking water service bills for federal employees affected by the shutdown. When federal operations resume, the AAA will offer flexible payment plans to settle any outstanding balance.
What do you need? Present a photo ID and official documentation certifying your federal employment. This can be done by email at ayudaempleadosfederales@acueductospr.com, by calling 787-620-2482 (Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.), or by visiting AAA commercial offices from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
🛒 Assistance, guidance and food in Caguas: El Municipio de Caguas opened a guidance and support center for federal employees affected by the shutdown, estimated at 800 in that town. Located at the Complejo Deportivo Ángel O. Berríos, the center will offer food, help with gasoline costs and other services. Health services support will also be available.
For information, you can visit the center between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. or call 939-320-2968 or the Centro de Desarrollo Humano at 787-653-8833, extension 1605.
🚸 Child care services and PAN benefits: The Departamento de la Familia announced that federal employees affected by the shutdown can apply for child care benefits offered by the Administración para el Cuidado y Desarrollo Integral de la Niñez (Acuden), through Acuden Digital.
They can also apply for benefits from the Programa de Asistencia Nutricional (PAN) while they are without pay, through the Administración de Desarrollo Socioeconómico de la Familia (Adsef).
💵 Unemployment insurance payments: The Departamento del Trabajo y Recursos Humanos (DTRH) announced that federal employees who are without pay can apply for unemployment insurance benefits through the portal trabajo.pr.gov.
Once the application is complete, applicants must upload the required documents through the online upload system at trabajo.pr.gov/DocUploader. Required documents include Forma 50, Forma 8, W-2, a furlough notice and DD-214 if applicable. For more information, click here.
🛒 Vega Baja offers help with utility and food costs: The municipality of Vega Baja announced on Nov. 2 that it will have financial assistance available for water, electricity and food costs for federal employees affected by the shutdown.
For more information, call 787-855-2500, ext. 2000, or visit the Customer Service Office at the municipality of Vega Baja.
Mortgages and loans
🏦 Banco Popular opens the door to payment plans: The president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Popular, Inc., Javier Ferrer, said the bank is "ready to help" federal employees affected by the shutdown, with "programs to assist customers who are impacted in their financial situation and cannot meet their obligations due to an issue like this," as happens in other emergencies.
The banker said they could offer payment plans for loans and mortgages to federal employees whose financial situation is affected by the shutdown.
Ferrer pointed out that, at this time, they have not seen interruptions in federal financing programs related to mortgages and guarantees, such as those offered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), among others.
💵 Oriental has its Programa de Alivio por el Cierre del Gobierno Federal
This program offers temporary relief to help keep finances in order while the situation normalizes.
The program includes three main relief options:
Moratoria, which allows borrowers to temporarily pause loan payments for up to three months, though interest continues to accrue and the loan term is extended.
Extensión de pago, where borrowers can postpone one or more monthly payments and the loan's due date simply moves forward.
Another option is payment deferral, in which the missed payments are moved to the end of the loan and paid as a lump sum when the property is paid off or sold.
Food and free meals
🛒 Applicants can apply for PAN: The Department of the Family announced that federal employees affected by the shutdown can apply for benefits through the Programa de Asistencia Nutricional (PAN) while they are without pay.
Benefits are requested through the Administración de Desarrollo Socioeconómico de la Familia (Adsef).
🍛 Free lunch at a Fajardo dining hall: El Comedor Dorado del Movimiento Pentecostal Luz del Mundo announced on Oct. 31 that it will offer free hot meals to families of federal employees from Fajardo affected by the shutdown. The dining hall prepares 540 lunches daily for older adults, people experiencing homelessness and families in need.
Meals can be eaten on-site or taken to go. For more information or to be added to the list, call 787-387-8479.
🍛 Free lunch at a San Juan restaurant: La Revolución, a Mexican restaurant located on Avenida Roosevelt in San Juan, announced that it will offer free lunch to federal employees who present their ID at the location. Service will run from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. throughout the week. On Monday, the restaurant reported that it served about 100 free lunches.
🛒 Food in Caguas: The municipality of Caguas opened an orientation and assistance center for federal employees affected by the shutdown, estimated at 800 in that town. They offer aid, guidance and food.
For information, you can visit the center between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. or call 939-320-2968 or the Centro de Desarrollo Humano at 787-653-8833, extension 1605.
Food Banks
🛒 El Comedor de la Kennedy (San Juan): Offers free food and groceries for federal employees and others in need. Monday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cover photo: Screenshot from Facebook, Comedir de la Kennedy
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
