Social Security benefits are covered by mandatory spending, which means that the funding for the program has already been approved by Congress without an expiration date. As a result, Social Security recipients including retirees, disabled Americans and the dependents of deceased workers wouldn’t see an interruption in their monthly payments if the government shuts down.
However, other Social Security services could be impacted by a shutdown, according to the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare. The Social Security Administration’s working budget requires approval from Congress, with lawmakers currently at loggerheads over funding the federal government past Sept. 30.
If an agreement isn’t reached before then, some Social Security services could be temporarily halted until the issue is resolved, according to both the Social Security Administration and experts on the retirement program.