Government Shutdown and Social Security: Key Information for Visalians

Many Americans are worried about the impact a looming government shutdown could have on programs such as Social Security. For the 68 million Americans receiving Social Security benefits, it is important to know what happens in such a scenario. Here’s what you need to know about how Social Security works during a government shutdown.

Payments

The good news is that Social Security payments, which include retirement, disability benefits, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), are not affected by a government shutdown. Since Social Security is funded by dedicated payroll taxes, they don’t count on a Congressionally appropriated annually basis. >

Craig Copeland, a director of wealth benefits research at the Employee Benefit Research Institute, says that as long as it has dedicated funding, “Social Security is outside of the budget process. All that money is there to be paid out. It doesn’t have to be appropriated.” >

Also, programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, military veterans’ benefits, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are not affected by a government shutdown. >

Social Security Operate

In a government shutdown, the SSA automatically has a contingency plan. Therefore, the necessary activities for making payments and operating direct services would not be halted.
As cited in the 2025 SSA fiscal year contingency plan:

• Functions to be Maintained: Only tasks directly pertinent to accurate and timely payment of benefits.
• Non-Essential Activities Suspended: All those activities not having a direct relevance to benefit payment or critical service would be put on hold temporarily.

Local SSA Offices

Limited staff may be present at the time of a shutdown at the Visalia, California local Social Security office, 1901 E. Noble Ave. While services necessary to process benefits and provide responses regarding payment questions will be available, not all services will be accessible in person.

Call the local office in Visalia during regular hours Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., at 866-344-8475 to get your question answered. >

Unaffected

Unlike most federal programs, Social Security operates outside the annual budget appropriations process. Payroll taxes collected under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) ensure a steady stream of funding, regardless of the government’s fiscal status.

This structure allows the program to continue issuing checks even when other government services might pause.

What’s Next?

The current funding agreement that averted a September shutdown expires Friday. It is unclear whether an agreement will be reached. In the meantime, President-elect Donald Trump has urged Congress to act on the debt ceiling, which could make it harder to pass legislation.

At least for now, Social Security recipients can sleep easy knowing that their benefits won’t be touched by a shutdown.

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