Richard Stephen | Istock | Getty ImagesMore than 74 million Social Security beneficiaries will still receive their payments amid a federal government shutdown.But while the agency's local offices are slated to stay open, certain services may not be available.
CNBC's blog for government shutdown .The Social Security Administration plans to a contingency plan for continued activities, an agency spokesperson said in a statement."Social Security beneficiaries will continue receiving their Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance and [Supplemental Security Income] payments," the spokesperson said.More from Personal Finance:How the government shutdown may affect your money Government shutdown blocks student loan borrowers from forgivenessHow workers can prepare financially for a government shutdownIn a Sept.
24 contingency plan, the Social Security Administration outlined the services that would and would not be available in the event of a government shutdown.Out of more than 51,000 employees, 6,000 would be furloughed, the agency said.Social Security services during the shutdownLocal offices will remain open, but services will be reduced, according to the Social Security Administration.According to the agency, consumers can still:apply for benefitsrequest an appealchange address or direct deposit informationreport a deathverify or change citizenship replace a lost or missing Social Security paymentobtain an expedited payment in an emergencychange a representative payee,obtain a new or replacement Social Security cardSSI beneficiaries will still be able to make changes to their living arrangements or income.Offices will be open for hearings before administrative law judges.watch now1:4901:49Here's how to manage your finances during a government shutdownPower LunchHowever, certain in-person services will not be available, according to SSA, including:of of income letters or corrections to earnings recordsoverpayment cessingIt also will not be possible to replace Medicare cards, the agency said.To access benefit information and services, SSA is urging individuals to log on to their online My Social Security accounts.Social Security COLA may be delayedA government shutdown could delay the release of key economic data.New consumer price index data is scheduled to be released on Oct.
15.
The Social Security Administration is expected to announce the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment this month based on that data.If the CPI data release is delayed, that may have an impact on when the Social Security COLA is announced, according to the Department of Labor.More than 74 million beneficiaries may see an increase in their monthly payments next year, based on the annual inflation adjustment.
Estimates released in September pointed to a 2.7% to 2.8% benefit boost for 2026, which would push the average retirement benefit up by $54 per month.'The question is, is it going to be a long shutdown?'Not counting the current one, the federal government has had 14 shutdowns since 1980, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.This lapse "feels different" due to the strong political opposition between the parties, said Maria Freese, senior legislative representative at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said the federal funding lapse may lead to "irreversible" cuts to health care and social benefit grams.
Trump did not elaborate on exactly which grams could be affected.
The White House did not respond to a request for further information by press time.The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is still telling people that benefit checks will continue to go out, Freese said."The question is, is it going to be a long shutdown?" Freese said.
"It does take a while to get these agencies shut down, so if it's only a couple of days, people don't even really notice."