The federal government is now on day two of its shutdown following a deadlock between the Republican and Democratic parties with regards to a spending bill. In order for a spending bill to be passed, 60 votes are required, however, neither sides could garner the required number of votes for the healthcare spending bill, resulting in a government shutdown. During a government shutdown, operations are halted for all federal agencies that are funded by discretionary spending.
Federal agencies that are funded by mandatory spending, such as Social Security, will remain functional but at a limited capacity. As such, the Social Security Administration (SSA) shared an update on its blog on Wednesday, October 1st, outlining which services will still be available to beneficiaries or applicants. Here is everything you need to know.
Will Social Security payments still be paid during the shutdown?
The short answer is yes, benefit payments will still continue to roll out as per the schedule. According to the SSA’s October 1st update, a fair number of services will also be available to the public during this time despite the agency functioning in a limited capacity.
“We want you to know that during the federal government shutdown, payments to all people who currently receive Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will continue with no change in payment dates. You will still receive your payments on time,” the agency wrote.
In the update, the agency encourages beneficiaries to create a my Social Security account to manage their benefits or access important services. Field offices will, however, be open to the public but will only be able to provide limited services to any in-person visitors. According to the SSA, services such as proof of benefits letters, or update or correct earnings records will not be provided to beneficiaries for the duration of the shutdown. “These in-person services will resume when the federal government is operating normally,” the SSA wrote, adding that it will post updates on its various social media accounts when the shutdown ends. Additionally, hearing offices will remain open and it will still be possible to have hearings conducted before an Administrative Law Judge.
“A shutdown does not impact payments of Social Security benefits, including Disability Income or Retirement Income. Social Security benefits are paid out of a trust fund that is not subject to Congressional appropriation and is considered mandatory spending. Benefit payments will still be disbursed, though in previous shutdowns benefit verification and card issuance services ceased. This can cause delays in recipients having their entitlement claims processed,” Representative Brittany Petterson stated in a Wednesday statement.
The upcoming Cost of Living Adjustment announce which was due to occur around mid-October will also likely face delays due to the shutdown since the Bureau of Labor Statistics will have halted all operations. Customer service will also likely take a hit, resulting in lengthier wait times due reduced staff.
Services available at SSA field offices during the shutdown
As noted above, all Social Security benefit payments will still be rolled out to beneficiaries on time, as per the official schedule. In addition to this, the agency has confirmed that local field offices will also be open during this time, however, the services offered will be limited until the shutdown ends. Listed below are all of the services that can be provided by the agency for the duration of the federal shutdown, as per the SSA’s blog update:
- 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