But Congress doesn’t always pass a bill to fund the government in time. Sometimes the government does shut down, as it did three times in the 1980s, twice in the 1990s, and again in 2013. Where does that leave recipients of SSI and SSDI, and applicants for benefits? The Social Security Administration has a contingency plan that outlines what activities will still happen and what won’t happen in the event of a government shutdown.
A: Yes, benefits will still be paid in the event of a government shutdown.
A: SSA field offices will continue to process applications during a government shutdown.
A: It should not. SSA will continue to schedule hearings, hold hearings, and write decisions during a shutdown. However, SSA may not be accepting hearing appeals or docketing new hearing applications during a shutdown.
A: No, SSA will still be processing those claims during a government shutdown.
A: No. SSA will not be processing replacement Social Security cards during a government shutdown.
A: Yes. Processing changes of address for people already receiving benefits is a “normal post-entitlement action” that SSA will continue to do during a shutdown.
A: No, FOIA requests will not be processed during a shutdown.
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