The Shutdown is Now Underway…What’s the Impact on Social Security Payments? - Economic Times; AMAC Foundation
It’s here…the federal government officially shut down at 12:01 a.m. today following a no vote on a stopgap funding bill that would have allowed for continued operation through November 21. Naturally, the question foremost on the minds of many of the more than 67 million Social Security beneficiaries is, “Can I depend on my benefit payment arriving?”
The answer to that specific question, according to a post by Economic Times contributor Piyush Shukla (click here to read), is that no change in benefit payments is anticipated during the shutdown. His post explains it this way: “The good news is that Social Security payments are expected to arrive on time, providing stability during uncertain times. Social Security is considered mandatory spending, which means it is automatically funded under existing laws. Even if Congress fails to pass new funding bills, the money for Social Security benefits is protected. This ensures that beneficiaries receive their payments without interruption, even when other parts of the federal government are temporarily shut down.”
So, benefit checks will continue to flow, but there are other potential impacts on Social Security. Some Social Security Administration (SSA) services (e.g., issuing Social Security cards, appointments for benefit applications, etc.) are likely to be limited as workers are furloughed, and some services like benefit verifications and processing overpayments could be suspended. Generally, it appears likely that SSA customer service wait times will increase.
As always, the AMAC Foundation Social Security Advisory Service stands ready to assist the public on matters related to this key area of senior support. Learn more about this free-to-the-public service and how to access it by clicking here.
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