WASHINGTON — With the federal government shutdown ongoing for the time being, millions of Americans who rely on Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits may be wondering how it will impact them. For now, the Social Security Administration says the impact should be minimal. However, it admits that some services will be slowed or unavailable during this period.
Here are four things to know about how the shutdown will impact Social Security and SSI beneficiaries:
1. Benefit Payments Will Continue Without Interruption
The most critical takeaway for recipients is that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will not be paused or delayed by the shutdown. The Social Security Administration (SSA) confirmed that all benefits will be issued on schedule with no interruptions. This assurance specifically covers the upcoming Social Security payments scheduled for Oct. 8, Oct. 15, and Oct. 22 and the SSI benefits set to be distributed on Oct. 31.
2. Local Offices Remain Open but Expect Delays
While SSA offices are not closing, beneficiaries seeking in-person assistance should prepare for potential delays. The agency announced that local offices will stay open to help with most of its services. However, a significant caveat is that staffing at these locations may be reduced during the shutdown, likely leading to longer-than-usual wait times for assistance.
3. Core In-Person Services Will Still Be Available
The SSA has outlined a list of essential services that its staff will continue to provide at local offices. Americans can still apply for benefits, request an appeal, update their address or direct deposit information, and get a new or replacement Social Security card. Staff will also be available to help report a death, verify citizenship status, process a request for a critical payment, and change a representative payee. For SSI recipients, assistance with changes in living arrangements or income will also continue.
4. Some Services Are Suspended or Restricted to Online Only
Several SSA services will be temporarily unavailable or limited during the shutdown. In-person assistance for replacing a Medicare card, issuing a proof of income letter, or correcting earnings records is suspended. However, beneficiaries with a My Social Security account can still access these services online. Other functions that are completely halted include the processing of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, overpayments, and payee accounting. For complete details, the SSA advised the public to consult its full government contingency plan on the SSA website.
Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was edited and expanded by MLive staff.
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