As the government shutdown enters its second week, millions of Americans are wondering how Social Security will be impacted. Despite the shutdown, Social Security beneficiaries will receive their benefits without delay. However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will continue to experience service disruptions, furloughs, and potential delays to other key announcements, such as next year’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
This means that the government shutdown will split Social Security recipients into two groups: those who rely on their monthly checks and those who will require the SSA to offer critical services that are now paused.
Social Security Payments Continue but Only for One Side of the Divide
Since Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are considered mandatory spending and don’t rely on annual congressional approval, they will not be affected by the lapse in federal funding.
According to J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, the Social Security program has never missed a payment since it began in 1935. Even in the event of shutdowns, benefits are funded through permanent appropriations, ensuring that recipients receive their benefits without delay or fail.
Therefore, beneficiaries who receive retirement, disability, or survivor benefits are guaranteed that their checks will arrive on schedule. The SSA confirmed that even the October payments will not be delayed, including those born between the 11th and 20th who are set to receive their payments on Wednesday, October 15.
Furloughs and Limited Services at SSA Offices
Although Social Security payments remain uninterrupted, the shutdown has disrupted the SSA’s operations. About 12% of the agency’s 51,825 workforce, which is approximately 6,200 employees, have been furloughed. This has limited in-person services and slowed processing times.
According to the SSA, the only essential tasks that will continue to be offered in its offices are:
- Applying for benefits
- Requesting an appeal
- Changing address or direct deposit information
- Reporting a death
- Verifying or changing citizenship status
- Replacing a lost or missing Social Security payment
- Issuing critical payments
- Changing a representative payee
- Processing living arrangement or income changes for SSI recipients
- Issuing new or replacement Social Security cards
Here are the services that will be unavailable during the shutdown:
- Issue proof of income or benefit verification letters
- Replace Medicare cards
- Update or correct earnings records
- Process benefit overpayments or repayments
- Handle third-party queries
- Respond to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests
- Conduct payee accountings
- Perform IT enhancements, public relations, or training
- Process certain prisoner-related activities
- Update official SSA social media accounts
Given the list of services that will not be available in the offices, officials recommend using online services where possible. According to J.P. Morgan, most of these services will be fully available online.
Why the 2026 COLA Announcement Could Be Delayed
Before the shutdown, the announcement of the 2026 Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) was to be announced on October 15, but that has been postponed to October 24. The delay is tied to the delay of inflation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which is used to calculate the Consumer Price Index.
According to the agency’s contingency plan, the BLS will recall some of its employees to ensure that the inflation report is released on Friday, October 24, at 8:30 a.m. After the announcement, the SSA will also go ahead and release the COLA 2026 after it has used the inflation data to calculate the Consumer Price Index.
What Beneficiaries Should Do
Experts advise beneficiaries to stay up-to-date by following updates on ssa.gov since the agency will not be posting on its social media handles until the shutdown is over. It is also recommended that beneficiaries set up a my Social Security account, where they can manage their payments, verify deposits, and update their personal information.
Conclusion
Although the government shutdown may be causing uncertainty across federal agencies, Social Security payments will still be paid as scheduled. If the shutdown drags on, retirees and other beneficiaries may face delays in services and also have to wait longer for the 2026 COLA announcement.