What Happens to My Benefits If the Federal Government Shuts Down Friday Night?
House Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday they oppose a short-term spending bill that would keep the government going into next year, as a federal shutdown appears increasingly likely. “If we had a real president, this chaos wouldn’t happen,” Trump said in a statement. “We will in 32 days.”
Congress must pass a spending bill by the end of Friday, Dec. 20, to fund the federal government next spring while crafting a long-term federal budget. If Congress passes that deadline without approving funding, the government will enter a shutdown period until the deadline is passed, during which federal employees will be furloughed without pay and some government services will cease operations.
The US government has shut down 10 times in its long historyThe first closure occurred in late 1981. The most recent shutdown, which began in December 2018, was arguably the most severe of them all, lasting a record 35 days. Although the government has not shut down since then, threats from the government have become increasingly common in recent years whenever funding deadlines approach.
If there is a shutdown in 2024, you can expect some important services to continue while others stand still. You can read on to know all the details. For more information, learn how Protect your Social Security number from theft and How long do you have left to get ACA health insurance.
Can I still get Social Security during the shutdown?
The Social Security Administration has plans in place to ensure Social Security checks are still issued despite a government shutdown. This applies to Social Security benefits as well as Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance.
However, you may see delays in other Social Security Administration services, including the issuance of new Social Security cards and appointments for benefit applications, and responses to customer service requests. Other things like benefit verification and processing overpayments will stop entirely.
Can I still get health insurance during the government shutdown?
Just like Social Security, if you have Medicare or Medicaid, you can continue receiving benefits during the government shutdown. according to an outline However, a release from the office of Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., said those benefits could stop if the shutdown lasts longer than three months, but that possibility goes well beyond historical precedent. .
Will the government shutdown affect federal nutrition programs?
Food aid programs are at significant risk of losing funding if the government shuts down. If you’re one of the tens of millions of Americans enrolled in programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, your benefits may run out soon after the government shutdown begins. The Department of Agriculture is also authorized to issue SNAP benefits only within 30 days of the start of the government shutdown, regardless of whether funds are available.
Will the government shutdown affect air travel?
Although they will not be paid during the shutdown, federal employees in this field are expected to still work during the shutdown, so you most likely will not see an immediate impact on air travel. This includes air traffic controllers, Transportation Security Administration officers and Customs and Border Protection personnel.
However, according to Rep. Wexton’s detailed analysis of government shutdowns, it is not unheard of for these employees to be absent from work during government shutdowns, which can cause significant delays in the travel process at airports.
To learn more, please learn How Medicare might change in 2025.
