Could a Government Shutdown Mean the End of Social Security Checks?
As Congress grapples with funding disputes, the shadow of a government shutdown looms ominously over the United States. If lawmakers can’t reach a consensus and pass the necessary funding bills, the government will lose its legal authority to allocate funds beyond essential services. But what does this mean for you, the everyday American? And if you rely on Social Security payments, will you still receive your hard-earned benefits while the government hits pause?
The Scoop on Social Security During a Shutdown
Here’s the good news: during a government shutdown, Social Security benefits will keep flowing uninterrupted. Why? Because Social Security is a mandatory program funded independently of those short-term measures Congress often resorts to during political standoffs. This means that the checks will keep coming, providing peace of mind for approximately 72.8 million beneficiaries, including retirees, individuals with disabilities, and dependents of deceased beneficiaries.
While you can count on your benefit checks to arrive as scheduled, be prepared for potential delays if you need assistance from the Social Security Administration (SSA). With many staff members furloughed, services like benefit verifications and processing overpayments may take longer than usual. To top it off, the SSA is operating at its lowest staffing levels in five decades, thanks to a lack of funding during the recent continuing resolution passed by Congress.
Services You Might Miss
Although your benefit payments will remain intact, some essential services could face disruptions. Important tasks like processing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, resolving overpayment issues, and reissuing Medicare cards could come to a halt. With around 8,500 SSA employees furloughed during a shutdown, these vital services will be paused until Congress reaches a budget agreement.
The Fallout for Other Public Programs
Other federal benefit programs may not feel the immediate pinch of a government shutdown, but that could change if it drags on. For those relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), benefits will continue for about 30 days before reserves run dry. After that, furloughs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture could disrupt assistance.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) faces an even steeper challenge. This vital program, which supports low-income pregnant women, new mothers, and young children, has limited emergency funds. Once those funds are exhausted, prioritization of assistance for those in critical need will become necessary.
Lessons from Past Shutdowns
History has shown us that government shutdowns can have wide-reaching consequences. Take the 2013 shutdown, for instance: the Food and Drug Administration postponed nearly 900 inspections, while the Environmental Protection Agency halted inspections at 1,200 sites. National parks were also affected—though most remained open, visitors faced a lack of services and rampant trash accumulation.
This time around, air travel could take a significant hit, especially with the holiday season fast approaching. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, travelers encountered longer wait times at airports as TSA agents began to call in sick. Major airports, including LaGuardia in New York, even ordered ground stops due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.
A TSA spokesperson has indicated that while employees would continue to work without pay during the busy holiday season, prolonged shutdowns could lead to extended wait times at airports. And let’s not forget the broader economic impact: the longest shutdown on record, lasting 35 days from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019, cost the U.S. economy at least $11 billion, with additional losses hard to quantify.
