As the federal government shutdown approaches its two-week milestone, a number of federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration (SSA), continue to face operational disruptions due to furloughs. Consequently, thousands of SSA employees have been sent home, which limits the agency’s available services.
Despite the shutdown, Social Security payments and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disbursements remain unaffected. These benefits are classified as mandatory spending by law and thus continue without interruption, independent of congressional approval. This provides a crucial safety net for beneficiaries during this period of political standoff.
For October, Social Security beneficiaries born between the 11th and 20th of the month can expect their monthly payments to be deposited on Wednesday, October 15, as outlined in the SSA’s payment calendar.
While Social Security offices are operational during the shutdown, only selective services are accessible to the public. Beneficiaries can still apply for benefits, request appeals, update their address or direct deposit details, report deaths, verify citizenship status, replace lost payments, issue urgent payments, change representative payees, and process income or living arrangement changes for SSI recipients. However, several services, such as replacing Medicare cards, issuing proof of income letters, and updating earnings records, are currently not available.
A significant concern during the shutdown is the anticipated announcement of the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), originally slated for October 15. The SSA relies on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to provide inflation data necessary for determining COLA. However, due to widespread furloughs at the BLS, the release of the September inflation report has now been postponed until 8:30 a.m. on Friday, October 24. This delay could further postpone the COLA announcement, impacting the financial planning of many beneficiaries.
The ongoing government shutdown presents challenges, but the uninterrupted flow of Social Security benefits provides a much-needed assurance to millions of Americans during these uncertain times. The resilience of these essential programs serves as a reminder of their critical role in supporting individuals and families across the nation.