On October 1st, the federal government went into a shutdown following a deadlock between the Republican and Democratic parties regarding the healthcare spending bill. Today is day 21 of the shutdown and resolution does not yet appear to be in our sights. As the shutdown continues on, it is becoming the second longest shutdown on record, with the longest shutdown on record having occurred during the first Trump Administration and lasting 35 days.
In terms of Social Security, beneficiaries will still receive their benefit checks undisrupted, however, local offices are functioning in a limited capacity, as per an update from the Social Security Administration (SSA) when the shutdown first began. More recently, it seems as though disruptions are afoot at a number of SSA field offices as workers push on without pay. Here is what you need to know.
Social Security field offices take hit amid shutdown
On day one of the federal government shutdown, the SSA shared an update to its blog stating that beneficiaries will still continue to receive their benefits as scheduled. Additionally, the SSA mentioned that field offices would also continue to operate, however, a limited number of services would be available to those who visit the field offices as in person.
Now almost three weeks later, field offices in states across the country, including Texas, California, and New York, are now updating their hours and capabilities likely as a direct result of government employees not receiving pay.
When the shutdown was in its initial days, the SSA noted in its blog post that the following services would still be available to customers:
- Apply for benefits
- Request an appeal
- Change your address or direct deposit information
- Report a death
- Verify or change your citizenship status
- Replace a lost or missing Social Security payment
- Obtain a critical payment
- Change a representative payee
- Make a change in your living arrangement or income (SSI recipients only)
- Obtain a new or replacement Social Security card
With no current end in sight to this shutdown, this list of services offered may soon shrink. Whilst the limited services may be frustrating, the good news is that benefits will still be paid to recipients as scheduled.
“…Social Security beneficiaries will continue receiving their Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance, and SSI payments,” a spokesperson for the SSA said to Newsweek.
Impact of shutdown on SSA offices
According to the latest Social Security alerts, several SSA offices have faced changes as of Monday as outlined below:
- The Madera SSA office in California will only be able to provide customers with in-person service from 1 pm local time.
- The Havre office in Montana can only conduct business via telephone until further notice.
- New York offices are facing numerous interruptions, with the East Bronx office being unable to offer in-person service before 10 am. The Canarsie and Corning offices are only able to provide assistance via telephone until further notice.
- The Wilkes-Barre office in Pennsylvania can only offer assistance via telephone. The Bloomsburg and Reading offices are also not offering in-person service at the moment.
- The Spartanburg office in South Carolina will only offer assistance via telephone on Monday.
- The Dallas Fair Park office in Texas will also only offer assistance via telephone in lieu of in-person visits.
- The Logan office in West Virginia will also be offering assistance exclusively via telephone.
- The Cody office in Wyoming will also be following suit and providing assistance only via telephone.
“As a result of the lapse in appropriation, SSA is following the contingency plan for continued activities, and Social Security beneficiaries will continue receiving their Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance, and SSI payments,” an SSA spokesperson told Newsweek. “Local Social Security offices remain open for some services. Additional information is also available on our blog: What the Federal Government Shutdown Means to You | SSA. Individuals can use their personal my Social Security accounts to conveniently access and manage their benefits during the government shutdown.”