With the government shutdown being the talk of the town, one of the biggest questions remains, what happens to Social Security? There are millions of Americans who rely on Social Security for essential expenses and cannot afford to have disruption in their benefits.
Fortunately for millions, Social Security benefit payments will still continue. Retirees, people with disabilities, and survivors will still see their checks deposited on time. However, it’s important to note that not all services will be running as normal. According to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) contingency plan, about 12% of the agency’s staff are being furloughed, which means some services will be temporarily suspended.
Services That Will Keep Running
The SSA has prioritized its most essential work: making sure benefits are delivered and that new applications are handled.
- Benefit Applications
Your application will still be handled if you are requesting retirement, disability, or survivor benefits. The shutdown will not stop these claims since they are deemed vital.
- Appeals
Even though staff shortages may cause some delays, the appeal process will still continue.
- Payee Changes
People may need to transfer to a new representative payee in order to administer their benefits. This service will continue to be offered.
- Social Security Cards
If you need to request for an original or replacement Social Security card, this process will continue. The reason for this is because Social Security cards are often needed for jobs, banking and taxes.
- Initial Claims
New Social Security claims will still be open for review.
Services That Will Be Put on Hold
While the essentials are protected, the SSA will pause several services that are considered less urgent. These include:
- Benefit Verification
If you require benefit verification letters (these are often needed for loans/housing applications), these will not be available during the shutdown.
- Freedom of Information Requests (FOIA)
Until regular operations resume, anybody attempting to access government records under FOIA will have to wait.
- Replacement Medicare Cards
Even though Medicare isn’t directly affected, replacement Medicare cards will not be issued during the shutdown.
- Processing Overpayments
If the SSA overpaid you and you were in the process of disputing it, this process will be on hold.
What This Means for You
Social Security recipients can be rest assured that their benefits will still arrive as normal. Whether you’re retired, disabled, or receiving survivor benefits, you’ll still get your money as scheduled.
However, those individuals who require documents or need help resolving issues may experience delays and this can be frustrating. As a result of staff shortages, phone lines may also be backlogged, and offices may take longer to respond to queries.
How to Manage During the Shutdown
If you rely on one of the services currently paused, here are a few tips to make the situation easier:
- Benefit Verification Letters: If you require these for proof of income, try to ask if they will accept a bank statement showing proof.
- Medicare Card Issues: If you misplace your card, try using your online Medicare account.
- Overpayment Cases: Be sure to keep detailed information regarding overpayment as well as all related documentation.
- Be Patient with Delays.
Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, the government shutdown has created issues in Social Security services (even though benefits will be paid as normal, but support services, such as benefit verification and Medicare card replacements, will be on hold.
Millions of Americans be relieved that their benefits will still continue. This is especially important for those households living on fixed incomes. This will ensure that they can budget accordingly for essential expenses such as food, utilities and medical bills.
With that being said, it is important for beneficiaries to plan ahead and keep updated with information relating to the shutdown so that they know when services resume.