CFPB Union Rainy Day Fund ☔️

APRIL 2, 2024 DISCLAIMER: Current requests exceed the money available, with 22 requests totaling $23,500 (the fund contains $20,000). We are still welcoming your requests and keeping the form open, in case not all pending requests are approved. We will keep all members who submitted a request updated about the availability of funds.

Are CFPB’s pay delays hurting you and your family? Union members can now get rainy day pay. Apply today!

On March 21, 2024, CFPB Union's executive board approved a $20,000 hardship fund for dues-paying union members. This money is available as a grant (not a loan!) for members with financial needs, until CFPB agrees on a fair pay contract with our Union and raises and bonuses are implemented, or until the fund is depleted.

Requirements to receive a grant include:

You must be a dues-paying union member (join at www.nteu335.org/join)
You were expecting the annual raise and bonus to help with essentials
You are struggling to pay for essential needs like housing, transportation, childcare, healthcare, food, utilities, etc.
You're requesting up to $1,000 for financial assistance for the above OR up to $2,000 for an emergency such as eviction or loss of housing
You've checked your eligibility for other resources for federal employees including:
- A $1500 loan from the FEEA emergency fund
- General purpose or primary residence loans from the Federal Reserve 401(k) or loans from the OPM Thrift Savings Plan
- Emergency backup care for children or dependent adults

This money is solidarity in action: union members pay dues so our union is strong in times of need. You pay your share in dues, so if you need some back now, don’t hesitate. Request rainy day pay now.

Have questions? Read on for answers and details.

Are these loans or grants?

Grants, not a loan. If approved, the money you receive does not need to be repaid.

Does this mean we aren’t getting raises or bonuses anytime soon?

Not necessarily, but we don’t know! Meanwhile, bills are overdue and members are in need. This fund has been in the works for several months in response to CFPB’s delays to our raises and bonuses. The timing of this announcement is not an indicator of the status of negotiations other than the fact that we still don’t have an agreement.

Our Union has never faced a management team this hostile in negotiations before. The CFPB and Director Chopra may not feel the urgency of reaching agreement on fair pay but our members do. Withholding raises and bonuses while making unreasonable and illegal demands for workers to abandon pay equity, comparable pay and comparable benefits, are having the intended effect of harming CFPB workers. But our Union has power, and money, and we will use it to make sure we aren’t bullied into accepting bad terms and a bad pay deal that we otherwise would never agree to. If you are feeling financial pressure to accept a deal that you otherwise disagree with, this grant is for you.

I’m not sure if I need it. Don’t others need it more than me?

Whether it’s $200 or $2000, if you are struggling financially and will use the money for essentials such as housing, transportation, childcare, caregiving, healthcare, food, utilities, etc., we want you to request a grant.

How do I request a grant?

Submit a request here! The form is short, only four questions, and is used to make sure we can fund your request according to the basic criteria summarized at the top of this page. In general, requests that meet the criteria will be approved and funded within 1-2 weeks.

How much can I get?

Up to $1,000 for financial assistance for essential needs like housing, transportation, childcare, healthcare, food, utilities, OR up to $2,000 for an emergency in these categories such as eviction or loss of housing.

What if I need more?

Submit the form and include the reason why. Requests above $2,000 will be considered on a case-by-case basis according to availability and financial need.

What documentation do I need to provide?

No documentation other than the form is required. Submit your request using the standardized form, and you will be contacted to schedule a meeting to discuss your request with a union executive board member. During the meeting we will confirm the next steps and timing for voting on your request.

How much money is still available?

As of 3/28 the full $20,000 is still available for members in need. Check this page, our weekly newsletter (Thursdays) and our weekly board meetings (also on Thursdays) for ongoing reports of how many members have received grants and how much of the fund has been disbursed.

Whose money is this?

The $20,000 is funded from our NTEU 335 reserve. This money was not already earmarked or budgeted for other purposes.

This money comes from union dues, paid by our members. It is not charity. It is a fund for members, by members, now available for those in need whose request meets the criteria.

Is my request anonymous?

Not completely but your identity and form submission will be confidential. We need your name in order to verify your union membership status, and may request other information as needed to send you payment, such as your mailing address.

Your information will be accessible to the five board members responsible for approving grant requests (including our treasurer). It may also be shared with the auditor who conducts oversight of our chapter finances.

The board will hold votes on approving grant requests in executive session and therefore no names or meeting minutes will be recorded.

Dues-paying union members have the right to request meeting minutes and certain financial records from our executive board. Your information will not be recorded in those documents.

Who reviews and approves my request?

Requests are received and reviewed by CFPB Union's Executive Board. Your information is confidential and will only be reviewed for the purposes of considering and approving your request. After you make your request:

Within 1 week, a board member will contact you via email to schedule a 15-minute call to review your request with you and answer your questions about the process. At this time you will be informed of the next scheduled board meeting date when your request will be reviewed for final approval.
The board usually meets every Thursday from 12:15-1 PM Eastern.
The board will vote to approve or deny your request based on need and availability. This vote will be conducted in executive session, without observers or meeting minutes, to maintain privacy and confidentiality.
In order to minimize implicit bias and conflicts of interest, your form submission will be anonymized to the extent possible when reviewing and voting on your request. In general, requests that meet the minimum criteria will be approved.
You will be contacted by the board within 24 hours of the vote on whether your request is denied or approved. If your request is approved you will be asked to provide details for how and where to send payment of the grant to you.
The executive board has a fiduciary duty to the best interests of the chapter. To that end, the board has the right and responsibility to deny grant requests that do not meet the criteria.

How do I get approved?

Submit a request here! The form is short, only four questions, and is used to make sure we can fund your request according to the stated criteria. In general, requests that meet the criteria will be approved and funded within 1-2 weeks.

How do I get paid?

If your request is approved you will be asked to provide details for how and where we should send you payment. Approved grants will typically be sent within 24-48 hours via electronic payment (Zelle) or a check via snail mail. If Zelle is not an option for you, please be aware that checks mailed by our bank can take several weeks to receive. Contact Treasurer Tracey Brumfield with payment questions.