Will the government shutdown 2025 impact my Social Security check? See if you'll get paid

Social Security October payments are set to be distributed this week despite a brutal battle on Capitol Hill amid the government shutdown 2025, where the Senate will next vote today, Tuesday, Oct. 21, in hopes of reopening the government.

The shutdown is not to impact the third wave of Social Security payments for the month of October, with this month marking the first under the agency’s new paperless policy.

Starting in October, most recipients need to have a direct deposit set up with their bank account or use a Direct Express card.

The change from paper checks to direct deposit follows President Donald Trump’s signing of an executive order in March, which ended the issuance of paper checks by the federal government, with the deadline for compliance being Sept. 30.

Here’s what you need to know about this week’s Social Security payments.

Who gets their Social Security payment this week?

Beneficiaries who were born between the 21st and 31st day of their birth month are set to receive their monthly Social Security benefit on Wednesday, Oct. 22, according to the SSA’s payment calendar.

When are Social Security payments sent?

Social Security benefits – paid mostly to recipients who are older or retired – are typically paid on Wednesdays.

If a recipient’s birthdate is between the first and 10th of the month, they are usually issued payments on the second Wednesday of the payment month, according to the SSA’s calendar. Recipients born between the 11th and 20th are paid on the third Wednesday, and those born after the 20th of the month get payments on the fourth Wednesday.

For those who received Social Security before May 1997, you can expect your payment on the third day of the month, unless it falls on a weekend or holiday.

Those who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can expect their Social Security payment on the third day of the month and their SSI payment on the first day of the month.

Government shutdown’s affect on Social Security payments

Worried about your Social Security paycheck or if your Social Security Office will close? Here’s what to know.

You will still receive your Social Security check, despite the government shutdown 2025.

Social security payments, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and benefits for retirement, disability and survivors, continue uninterrupted during government shutdowns. If you receive these services, you can expect to get your Social Security check or direct deposit as usual.

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are mandatory spending programs, meaning their budgets are not dependent on yearly congressional approval. However, staffing and some services at Social Security offices could be impacted if they have a discretionary spending component, which means it requires congressional agreement on how money will be spent. This could include processing new Social Security applications.

Are Social Security offices closed?

Social Security offices are still open during the government shutdown, but only some services are available, according to a post by the SSA. Local offices can still provide services including applications for benefits, requests for appeals, changes in address or direct deposit information, reporting a death, verifying or changing citizenship status, replacing a lost Social Security payment and more.

Social Security offices near me in Bucks County

444 Lincoln Hwy, Fairless Hills, PA. 800-772-1213

9300 Ashton Rd #4, Northeast Philadelphia, PA. 800-772-1213

On Tuesday, Oct. 21, there were a few Social Security offices closed to in-person services in Pennsylvania.

In Pennsylvania, Wilkes-Barre was only offering telephone services as of Monday, while Bloomsburg and Reading offices were closed “until further notice.”

Will I get my social security payments Oct. 22?

Yes, you can expect to receive your Social Security payment on Oct. 22, as long as you are a Social Security beneficiary born between the 21st and 31st day of your birth month. Benefits, paid to mostly recipients who are older or retired, are typically paid on Wednesdays. Your check comes depending on your birthdate (check the SSA calendar here).

Is the 1-800 number for Social Security down?

According to the Social Security Administration’s website, SSA.gov, the 800-number was “experiencing technical difficulties,” on Monday afternoon, Oct. 20, 2025. But the number was active and accessible Tuesday. SSA says the cause was a national outage and directs users to log into their “my Social Security” account to use their online services.

Is Medicare affected by government shutdown?

During the government shutdown 2025, Medicare, just like Social Security, continues since it is a program that relies on mandatory, and not discretionary, funding sources.

However, new applicants may see major delays in their application process until funding resumes. During the 1996 government shutdown, more than 10,000 Medicare applicants were temporarily turned away every day of the shutdown.

Government shutdown and social security benefits

Existing Social Security payments will continue without disruption during a government shutdown, but people who are newly in need of Social Secuity benefits or in the process of applying for benefits may face significant delays.

With fewer employees working to process applications, review qualifications and provide documentations, those seeking to renew or start benefits may have to contend with extended wait times.

SSI payment schedule for October, rest of 2025 and into 2026

Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks were set to receive payments on the first business day of the month, which was on Oct. 1, 2025.

SSI checks will be sent out on the following dates in 2025 and early 2026, according to the SSA calendar:

• Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 (Check for November 2025)

• Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 (Check for December 2025)

• Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 (Check for January 2026)

• Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 (Check for February 2026)

• Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 (Check for March 2026)

Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Is Social Security paid during shutdown 2025? Checks to go out Oct 22