Does the government shutdown affect Social Security checks? Here's what to know

A partial government shutdown began on Wednesday, Oct. 1, and Oregonians who receive Social Security benefits may be wondering if their checks will be affected.

Social Security does get funding from the government, but not in the same way as national parks or the military. Because of this, existing beneficiaries will feel the impact of the shutdown differently from Americans who don’t already receive Social Security payments.

Here’s what to know about Social Security payments during a government shutdown.

Do Social Security payments continue in Oregon during a government shutdown?

Social Security benefits, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and benefits for retirement, disability and survivors, continue uninterrupted through government shutdowns.

Money for Social Security benefit programs is considered mandatory spending by law, meaning its budget is not dependent on yearly congressional approval, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Unlike discretionary spending, which requires congressional agreement on how money will be spent, mandatory programs must continue, meaning Social Security payments are distributed on a regular schedule.

Oregonians who rely on these benefits should continue to receive their check or direct deposit as usual.

Other services provided by the SSA, however, such as processing new applications, can be impacted by shutdowns and the resulting lack of workers and movement in government systems.

What challenges do Social Security beneficiaries in Oregon face in a government shutdown?

While existing payments continue without disruption, people newly in need of Social Security benefits or in the process of applying may face significant delays during government shutdowns.

Oregon residents looking to apply for and access retirement, disability or survivor benefits for the first time are likely to face extended wait times. With fewer employees actively working to process applications, review qualifications and provide necessary documentation, those seeking to renew or start receiving benefits contend with a backlog in these processes.

This is especially true of anything that requires a manual review. Medical assessments for disability benefits, appeals or recertifications for denied or recurring payments and benefit calculations for families of recently deceased federal employees or veterans are all examples of processes that can be significantly delayed or paused altogether in a shutdown.

Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY

Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@gannett.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Here’s how the government shutdown affects Social Security checks