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Washington, D.C.—Federal employees who need financial assistance during FSAFEDS’ blackout period can get no-interest loans through the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA). The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) alerted the charity about the month-long period and shared its concerns that the blackout period would leave some federal employees stretched thin financially.

In August, federal employees will still have flexible spending account deductions taken from their pay but won’t be able to submit claims as FSAFEDS switches plan administrators.

NTEU National President Tony Reardon asked the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to shorten the blackout period or suspend the deductions, but OPM said it couldn’t do that. Determined to find another avenue to ease the financial impact on needy federal employees, Reardon asked FEEA if it could provide loans.

“Many NTEU members have recurring costs, such as child care, and rely on the FSAFEDS reimbursement to meet their financial obligations in a timely manner,” President Reardon wrote to FEEA. “It will unquestionably create a substantial hardship on employees using FSAs for recurring dependent care payments who will face not being reimbursed for multiple weeks.”

FEEA responded immediately. “We will make no-interest loans to employees who cannot meet the basic needs of their families because of the delay in reimbursement,” wrote FEEA Executive Director Steven Bauer.

Employees can repay the loans once FSAFEDS reimburses them. To apply, employees must fill out the emergency assistance application at www.FEEA.org. Click on the “Get Help Now” button on the home page to access the application.

NTEU represents 150,000 federal employees in 31 federal agencies.