Social Security Benefits and the Federal Government Shutdown

Social Security payments continue even during a government shutdown.

That’s because Social Security is considered a mandatory spending program, funded through its own trust funds, not through annual appropriations that Congress must renew.

💰 What Keeps Running

• Monthly benefits (retirement, disability, SSI) still go out.
• Medicare and Medicaid operations continue.
• Direct deposits and mailed checks are processed as usual.

⚠️ What May Slow Down

While the checks keep coming, some Social Security Administration (SSA) services could be affected if a shutdown is prolonged, such as:

• Delays in replacing Social Security cards
• Slower customer service or phone support
• Delays in processing new benefit applications or appeals

These happen because a shutdown often leads to furloughs of non-essential SSA employees, trimming operations to “critical services” only.

🏛️ Why This Happens

• Congress controls discretionary funding for day-to-day agency operations.
• During a shutdown, agencies must pause most activities not tied to “life, safety, or property protection.”
• Social Security’s funding for payments, however, is mandatory by law, so it continues regardless.

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