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Insider’s Report: Government Shutdown Impacting SSA Services |
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The government shutdown is now impacting critical customer service at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Thousands of SSA workers have been furloughed which is increasing wait times for important services.
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Even though agency services are limited, Social |
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Security and Supplemental Security Income checks will continue to go out as scheduled during the shutdown. That’s because these benefits are considered mandatory spending by law so they are not impacted by the lapse in funding appropriations. |
Even though agency services are limited, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income checks will continue to go out as scheduled during the shutdown. That’s because these benefits are considered mandatory spending by law so they are not impacted by the lapse in funding appropriations. |
However, some Social Security services are not available during the shutdown, including replacing Medicare cards, issuing a proof of income letter, and updating or correcting your earnings record. |
In addition, the announcement of the 2026 Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) has been delayed to October 24 given that key inflation data hasn’t been released. Typically, SSA announces the COLA in mid-October. |
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At the start of the shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) career economists that calculate the Consumer Price Index (CPI), critical for calculating the COLA, were thoughtlessly sent home by the Trump Administration rather than making them essential employees. But after realizing that the Social Security COLA could not be determined without them, Trump political appointees asked some key BLS staff to return to work. Seniors rely on this announcement to help plan their spending for the year ahead. |
As you know, prior to the shutdown, President Trump and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) brutally slashed the workforce at the already understaffed agency and erected new barriers for customers seeking to access their benefits — under the cover of a phony hunt for ‘waste’ and ‘fraud’ (which is statistically rare). |
SSA has forced seniors and people with disabilities to go online or travel to understaffed field offices to do business that previously could be conducted via telephone. The website also has crashed multiple times since the Trump Administration and DOGE took over. |
At this moment, it’s unclear how long the government shutdown will last. But what is clear is that millions of older Americans continue to be impacted by the ongoing chaos at SSA which is now being exacerbated by a prolonged shutdown. |
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Want to learn more about what’s happening at SSA? |
Listen to our podcast interview with former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley… on the havoc that Trump/DOGE are wreaking at SSA here. |
Also — we spoke with SSA whistleblower Laura Haltzel for an insiders’ take on Trump/DOGE interference in Social Security here. |
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New Podcast Episode: Social Security: The Stories We Tell Ourselves as We Age & Other Insights on Growing Older |
Check out the National Committee’s latest “You Earned This” podcast episode. Dr. Erlene Rosowsky is a clinical psychologist at Harvard specializing in the field of aging — or “geropsychology.” Her research and writings spring from a deep sense of empathy for seniors and their families. Today, she offers expert advice about aging — including, “the stories we tell ourselves” and the importance of humor. “Dr. R” also has plenty to say about ageism and forming friendships later in life. A must-listen for seniors — and their loved ones! Check out her blog, “The Older Self,” at https://erlenepsyd.com/category/blog.html |
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Check Out Our New Documentary on Social Security |
This year we are celebrating Social Security’s 90th birthday! Have you ever wondered how Social Security got started? It’s an exciting story that began during the 1930s and continues today. You can see it yourself in our new documentary film, “Social Security: 90 Years Strong.” View the full documentary here and the movie trailer here. |
We wouldn’t have Social Security today if it wasn’t for the vision of President Franklin D. Roosevelt — and the persistence of his Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins. Over the years, Republican and Democratic presidents signed legislation to expand Social Security to insure Americans against what FDR called “the hazards and vicissitudes of life.” That’s why we have benefits for not only retirees, but for disabled workers, spouses and survivors. |
In the final act of the documentary, you’ll see how the public has pushed back on the Trump Administration’s campaign to dismantle Social Security from within. Only by continuing to fight for our earned benefits can we make sure, in the words of FDR, that “no damn politician can ever scrap Social Security!” This is a story that has earned the right to be told. |
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Ask Us! |
Whether you’re retired or approaching retirement, our team of experts in the field of Social Security policy is available to answer your questions about benefits.
You can either search our archives for valuable advice on a broad range of concerns or submit your question here.
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This week’s question is: About a year ago I purchased a new car. The Credit Union (after a credit check) asked, “Did you know someone else is using your Social Security number?” I called the local Social Security office and was told, “You will have to pursue this on your own. There are no laws on taking on someone else's ID.” Can you possibly give me some advice on where to pursue this? |
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A free subscription, keeps you on top of the latest news about your earned benefits. |
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Your support sustains our campaigns in Washington to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare. |
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Learn more about the Social Security program and the policies the National Committee supports that would strengthen your earned benefits. |
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“The system hasn't missed a payment in its entire 90-year history and won’t start now,” Max Richtman, CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, told CBS News. (October 13, 2025, MSN, Kaili Killpack) |
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Medicare enrollment won’t be affected by the shutdown since it’s funded by dedicated payroll tax revenue. However, there are other ways beneficiaries could be impacted, according to Anne Montgomery, senior health expert at NCPSSM. “Medicare beneficiaries and those aging into Medicare could encounter significant delays and have a hard time getting timely information,” Montgomery said. (October 9, 2025, Investopedia, Jordyn Bradley) |
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Medicare Open Enrollment (also known as the Annual Election Period) began on October 15! From October 15 to December 7, you can make unrestricted changes to your Medicare coverage. In order to ensure you are getting the best health and drug coverage for the upcoming year, you should review your current Medicare health and drug coverage and compare it with the available options. (October 14, 2025, USA TODAY, Melina Khan) |
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The ongoing government shutdown is delaying the announcement of the annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for tens of millions of beneficiaries. Originally scheduled for Wednesday, the 2024 Social Security COLA announcement will now be Oct. 24. (October 15, 2025, ABC News, Fattima Hussein) |
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Max Richtman, president of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, said Social Security is “win-win for the older and younger generations.” “Saying that Social Security is unfair to younger adults is a false narrative that needlessly pits the generations against each other,” he told Newsweek. (Updated October 8, 2025, Newsweek, Jesus Mesa and Anita Powell) |
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The government shutdown has left Social Security field office employees unable to issue benefit verification letters, forcing vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities to struggle with online systems, missed deadlines and mounting hardship as staff work unpaid and overwhelmed. (October 10, 2025, NPR, Ashley Lopez) |
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Member contributions to the National Committee, a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization, are not tax-deductible. |
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