With the federal government shutdown going into effect on Wednesday, Social Security monthly payments are not expected to be interrupted, according to reports.
The Social Security program is funded through mandatory spending, meaning its budget has already been approved by Congress and is not subject to annual renewal, according to CBS News.
That ensures that the 74 million Americans who rely on Social Security, such as retirees, people with disabilities and survivors of deceased workers, will continue receiving benefits.
However, while payments will go out as scheduled, other services provided by the Social Security Administration such as benefit verifications, earnings record corrections, and replacement Medicare cards could be affected.
The Social Security Administration has released a contingency plan outlining which operations will continue. Approximately 45,000 employees are expected to remain on the job, while around 6,200 could be furloughed.
Still, the extent of service disruptions will depend on how long the shutdown lasts and how many of the administration’s employees are deemed essential.
According to the administration’s plan, non-critical activities such as Freedom of Information Act requests, IT enhancements, and public relations will be paused until funding is restored.
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