Nationals offer those affected by federal shutdown postponed season ticket payments
The Washington Nationals are taking one less weight off of furloughed employees’ backs as the shutdown of the federal government drags into its third week.
The organization sent an email to Nats Plus members on Monday announcing that season ticket holders employed by federal agencies impacted by the shutdown or the spouses of those employed by those agencies can opt to postpone their monthly ticket payments.
“We realize that many of our fans are facing challenges due to the ongoing federal government shutdown,” the email opens. “For those of you who are employed by federal agencies impacted by the shutdown, we want to make sure that your NATS PLUS plan isn’t adding to your stress.”
This is pretty cool by the @Nationals and very timely. Know of a number of other plan holders who had mentioned this morning they may have to drop their plan due to the #shutdown pic.twitter.com/EDYdZyxi8J
— Reuben Smith-Vaughan (@RCSmithVaughan) January 7, 2019
The postponed payments begin with the Jan. 15 payment, according to the email. Season ticket holders can postpone payments through the duration of the shutdown, the Washington Post writes:
It’s anyone’s guess as to which will happen first: Bryce Harper makes his free agency decision or the federal government reopens.
When the government does reopen, payments will be due for the missed amount with the next regularly scheduled payment dates. For example, if the government remains shut down Feb. 1, the Feb. 15 payment will be postponed and a season ticket holder owes the January, February and March payment on March 15.
Employees not paid during the shutdown usually receive back pay once the government reopens.
Approximately 800,000 employees are affected with some working without pay and others furloughed. It’s the second-longest shutdown in U.S. history and with bills coming due, especially given holiday spending, families are started to feel the full brunt of a missing paycheck.
It’s having the largest impact on employees living paycheck to paycheck, or close to it, who are now struggling to pay their student-athlete’s college tuition. Those not working for the federal government are also feeling the impact as many are stuck in limbo on home loans and waiting for government employees to approve such things as new craft beer labels.
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