As Congress and the president battle it out and the government shuts down, millions of Americans worry about what it means for them, especially the Social Security checks, Medicare, and Medicaid that they rely on, particularly during the holiday season. The good news is that Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare payments won’t be interrupted by the partial shutdown. All three programs are considered mandatory spending and are not affected by a federal budget debate. New applicants to the programs, however, may experience delays in processing. The U.S. Postal Service will also remain funded, so checks should arrive in the mail on time.
The Social Security Administration issued a shutdown contingency plan this month, outlining how it would remain in operation as some federal workers get furloughed and other programs shut down. Some nonessential employees of the Social Security Administration will be furloughed, so expect longer lines than usual at local offices or longer hold times on the phone. Additionally, benefit verification and the issuing of new Social Security cards will temporarily halt. For military veterans, Veterans Affairs disability and retirement checks are expected to go out on time, as will survivor benefits.
You can find the full Newsweek article here.