Will a Government Shutdown Affect Social Security?

The clock is ticking. If Congress doesn't pass a spending bill by midnight on Friday (April 28), then Uncle Sam will run out of money and shut down.

Will a Government Shutdown Affect Social Security?The prospect of this outcome has left many American retirees wondering the exact same question: Will a government shutdown affect Social Security?

The answer depends largely on your specific status with the Social Security Administration (SSA) as of Friday at midnight.

Here's what we mean...

How Will a Government Shutdown Affect Social Security?

Individuals who've long been receiving federal retirement benefits shouldn't be impacted by a government shutdown.

That's because this money comes from a separate, private trust (the Social Security Trust Fund), which is considered an "essential government service" and therefore protected from federal financial stalls.

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An example of a negatively impacted "non-essential government service," however, would be the Meals on Wheels program. Thirty-five percent of Meals on Wheels' funding comes from the federal government. Should this weekend bring us an Uncle Sam shutdown, Meals on Wheels may be forced to halt operations for a while.

The Social Security Administration would continue its operations -- dispersing money amid the shutdown -- but its employees would still be subject to furlough (unpaid, required leave).

And on top of all that, there is one group of retirees that's subject to a benefits halt should Congress fail to find a solution by the deadline...

These Retirees Are at Stake

New applicants.

Such was the case amid the longest government shutdown in U.S. history (in 1995-96; it lasted 21 days): The SSA stopped processing new SSI benefit applications for 10 of those 21 days. But as the shutdown dragged on, the agency eventually brought employees back in and renewed the process.

Other retirees' sources of income may run dry if this upcoming shutdown persists, as well...

People receiving veterans' benefits, unemployment insurance, farm subsidies, and tax refunds could face delays or have to wait until Congress passes a spending bill.

For example, in 2013 - the most recent U.S. government shutdown -- some veterans' benefits were delayed, though most were paid out, according to NBC News on Oct. 10, 2013.

However, on April 22, 2017, VA Secretary David Shulkin assured veterans during a CBS News interview that a shutdown poses "no risk" to vets this time around.

Video
"Federal Budget, Government Shutdowns Explained," Newsy, April 19, 2017

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