Social Security Payments Safe During Government Shutdown: What You Need to Know

Thank you for joining us for your Social Security update.
If you are worried about a government shutdown affecting your monthly Social Security payments, you can relax because your checks will keep arriving on time.
While some services may slow down, your benefits remain secure.
Keep watching as we explain what stays the same, what changes, and how you can manage your Social Security needs during this period.
During a government shutdown, Social Security payments for retirement, disability, and supplemental security income will continue without interruption for all 69 million beneficiaries because the program is funded by its own trust funds and is not dependent on annual congressional budget decisions.
So whether you receive monthly retirement checks, survivor benefits, or disability support, your financial stability is protected and your scheduled payment dates remain unchanged.
However, while local Social Security offices will stay open, you will likely experience longer wait times and slower service due to reduced staffing, meaning tasks like applying for new benefits, updating your address or direct deposit information, and reporting life changes for SSI will still be processed, but may take longer than usual.
Certain services such as Medicare card replacements, proof of income letters, and corrections to your earnings record are temporarily paused until the government resumes normal operations.
So, if you need these items, you will have to wait until after the shutdown.
The annual cost of living adjustment announcement, which typically occurs around October 15th and is projected to be about 2.7% for 2026, will be delayed.
But the increase will still be applied on schedule in January once the government reopens and the necessary inflation data is published.
To manage your benefits more easily during this period, the Social Security Administration recommends creating a free My Social Security account online, which allows you to handle many routine tasks from home and avoid long waits at local offices.
Nearly 69 million Americans will continue to receive timely Social Security payments even during a government shutdown, so your monthly income remains protected.
To minimize delays, set up a free My Social Security account online and handle as many tasks as possible from home.
If you need services like Medicare card replacements or proof of income letters, plan to request them once full operations resume.
For more information, visit socialsecurityalerts.news.
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