Will Social Security payments be impacted by the shutdown? What about SNAP benefits?

You will continue to receive key benefits like Social Security and assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the government shutdown that began on Oct. 1.

This is because both programs are considered mandatory spending, which means they continue operating even when the government is shut down.

However, some of their services may still be affected. Here’s what to know.

Will I get my Social Security check?

Yes. During a government shutdown, you continue to receive your Social Security and SSI checks.

Can I get a new Social Security card during the shutdown

The Social Security Administration will also continue to issue original and replacement Social Security cards and process applications for benefits and appeals, and field offices and the national 1-800 number will be running, according to Sen. Chellie Pingree, D-ME.

However, staffing and some services could be impacted if they have a discretionary spending component, according to the Committee for a Responsible Budget, a nonprofit that studies federal fiscal policy.

Pingree and Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., said on their websites that the SSA may stop services like benefit verifications and processing overpayments, and that customer wait times may “dramatically increase.”

What happens to SNAP?

SNAP recipients will also continue to receive assistance as normal for the month of October. But it could be affected if the shutdown lasts longer than 30 days.

McGovern and Pingree said that the majority of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will see an immediate reduction in benefits as the program will quickly run out of funding.

This article originally appeared on wickedlocal.com: Social Security benefits and SNAP during the government shutdown 2025