Shutdown FAQs

CGMA provides assistance to active-duty Coast Guard members, Coast Guard Civilian employees, and eligible family members.

If you are not part of the Coast Guard, there are other military aid societies that can help:

Army: Army Emergency Relief (AER)

Air and Space Force: Air Force Aid Society (AFAS)

Navy and Marine Corps: Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS)

Coast Guard Auxiliarists and Retirees are not eligible for shutdown loans.

Eligible Coast Guard members and employees may begin applying Feb. 2.

All applications must be submitted through CGMA Portal

If you are in need of financial support to help pay for things like rent, insurance, childcare, or food, and your primary bank will not grant you a loan, you can apply for a CGMA shutdown loan.

An interest-free loan up to the amount of one net paycheck (most recent deposit); maximum amount of $6,000.

You can apply online through the CGMA Portal. Funds are sent by ACH bank transfer or Zelle.

Getting help from CGMA won’t affect your credit score or security clearance, and you don’t need to be a donor to qualify.

However, repayment starts through allotment/payroll deduction once the government reopens, and the loan should be paid back within three months. You can also choose to repay it all at once in a single payment.

If payments aren’t made, your account could be sent to a collection agency, which may hurt your credit score and impact security clearance.

Yes! Spouses can apply for assistance through the CGMA Portal.

Yes. You can still apply, but your total CGMA loan amount cannot be more than $9,000.

Yes.

Yes, an interest-free loan up to the amount of one net paycheck (most recent deposit); maximum amount of $6,000.

You can apply through another CGMA Representative Site.

Use the “Find my Representative” tool at the bottom of the page to locate the nearest one.

Retiree pension and annuitant pay are protected and will not be affected by a shutdown.

Yes. PFMs are available to help during a shutdown. Click here to find your local PFM.

Repayment automatically starts through allotment/payroll deduction once the government reopens and the loan should be paid back within three months. You can also choose to repay it all at once in a single payment.

CGMA is monitoring the situation. If a second paycheck is missed, we’ll review and update our plan to make sure members continue getting the support they need.

Businesses are welcome to help Coast Guard members — as long as the offer is open to everyone and the business has no official ties to the Coast Guard. Check with local ethics office for additional guidance.

You can also make a donation at www.mycgma.org/donate

By making a donation here www.mycgma.org/donate  or by starting a fundraiser.