Will I get Social Security during government shutdown? Here’s what to know

Funding has ceased for many agencies following the federal government shut down on Tuesday, causing many agencies to stop or reduce services and furlough essential workers.

Among the impacted entities is the Social Security Administration (SSA) which provides benefits to millions of Americans including retirees, people with disabilities and dependents of deceased workers.

Prior to the shutdown, the SSA created a contingency plan indicating it would retain approximately 45,000 (90%) of its workforce during the shutdown, while furloughing roughly 6,200 employees.

This staffing reduction is expected to halt a variety of SSA services including:

• Benefit verifications

• Earnings record corrections and updates unrelated to the adjudication of benefits

• Payee accountings

• Prisoner activities-suspension

• Requests from third parties for queries

• Freedom of Information Act requests

• IT enhancement activities, public relations and training

• Replacement Medicare cards

• Overpayments processing

However, beneficiaries will continue to be paid on time. Benefit payments are categorized as mandatory spending, CBS News reported. This means their funding was already authorized by Congress with no expiration date.

Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a needs-based program that provides monthly payments to people with limited income and resources who are age 65 or older or have a disability, can expect to receive their first payment on Wednesday, Oct. 1, and Friday, Oct. 30.

The SSA’s schedule is based on the recipients birth date. Those born between the 1st through the 10th of their birth month will be paid on Oct. 8, while people with birthdays between the 11th and 20th will receive their payment on Oct. 15. Those born between the 21st and the last day of their brith month will get a check on Oct. 22.

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