Social Security benefit and SSI payments are expected to continue on schedule, but some SSA services and related federal processes may be limited or delayed.
If Congress does not pass funding, a federal government shutdown began on October 1, 2025. The Social Security Administration (SSA) says current Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will continue and should arrive on their normal payment dates. However, some SSA services (for example, certain in-person or phone services, new application processing, and adjudication of appeals or hearings) may operate at reduced capacity, and other agencies that support Social Security processes (like the Bureau of Labor Statistics for COLA calculations) could pause activities that affect future announcements. Readers who rely on benefits should monitor SSA.gov and their local SSA office for updates.
Effects:
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Monthly Social Security and SSI payments: Expected to continue on schedule.
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Local SSA office services: Offices may be open but with reduced services or staffing; some in-person services could be limited.
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New claims / appeals / hearings: Processing may slow and non-urgent work may be delayed.
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COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) announcement: The BLS data used to calculate the COLA could be delayed if BLS operations are curtailed — that may slow the official COLA announcement for 2026.
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Related benefit programs (SNAP, WIC, etc.): Many monthly benefit distributions are mandatory and likely to continue for October, but some program operations and client services can be affected if the shutdown continues.
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For the latest, visit SSA.gov or call your local SSA office — we will update this page if the situation changes.
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