What the Federal Government Shutdown Means to You
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: October 1, 2025
Congress failed to reach an agreement on funding beginning October 1, 2025. Until further notice, the federal government is shut down. We know you have questions and will do our best to answer them.
We want you to know that during the federal government shutdown, payments to all people who currently receive Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will continue with no change in payment dates. You will still receive your payments on time.
To help you manage your benefits and access important services, we encourage you to create an online my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount/. With a personal my Social Security account, you can view benefit estimates, request a proof of income letter, apply for benefits, request a replacement Social Security card or Medicare card, and much more. It’s easy, convenient, and secure.
Our local offices will remain open to the public but will provide reduced services. During this time, we can help you:
- Apply for benefits
- Request an appeal
- Change your address or direct deposit information
- Report a death
- Verify or change your citizenship status
- Replace a lost or missing Social Security payment
- Obtain a critical payment
- Change a representative payee
- Make a change in your living arrangement or income (SSI recipients only)
- Obtain a new or replacement Social Security card
Hearings offices remain open to conduct hearings before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Please be aware that we may not be able to assist with all in-person service requests at this time. For example, we cannot provide proof of benefits letters, or update or correct earnings records. These in-person services will resume when the federal government is operating normally.
When the shutdown ends, we will post updates on our official social media accounts, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram. For more information on the government shutdown, visit www.ssa.gov/agency/shutdown.
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Jennifer
Why are you guys pushing for Digital IDs?
Jennifer
If the government is shut down why are taxes being taken out of my paycheck?
Tina A.
Aetna will increase from $40 to $90! I’m a low income senior. Was hoping to purchase dental insurance, now I cannot. What can I do?
Nancy B.
I’m not sure what to do either as my Medicare will go from 168 to 204. I also pay AARP United Healthcare and a BC/BS medicine premium of 89 and a medicine payment plan of 168 a month. Unsure of why I pay a premium and payment plan for medication except some of my medicines are expensive if paid at the pharmacy but I feel every month I’m insurance poor.
Sue M.
I have family members who rely on ACA for their health coverage. The tax credit for premium payments was eliminated by the Republicans. The Democrats want that credit to be extended so that people can still afford to get insurance. It has nothing to do with giving money to illegal aliens. People who are undocumented can’t even get ACA coverage.
Now the Republicans say to pass a continuing funding bill to fund the government while they “negotiate”. But they can’t be trusted to negotiate about the tax credit because they are the ones who got rid of it in the first place. If they were honestly interested in helping low income people, they wouldn’t have taken away the credit that helped low income people get insurance at the exact same time they were giving huge tax breaks to rich people.
They just want to keep on doing whatever they want and cutting things poor people need so they can give tax breaks to the rich.
Christine
Schumer wants to fund illegals with the money of American citizens. I pray that God will continue to strengthen our country and straighten out the mess of the democrats, through President Trump and his administration.
Pat T.
Quit buying this trump generated lie! What part of it being AGAINST the law to fund illegal aliens that that you don’t understand??????? You maga people seem to not get it that right now – this whole mess is occurring under a TOTAL REPUBLICAN circus – President, VP, Senate, House and every incompetent head of the gutted Federal agencies.
Jennifer
You are of low IQ. You obviously inept to read.
Mike
Lies told to you by people who want to scare you. Only citizens get Medicare. Look it up.
Norman S.
This is untrue. Your God warns you against bearing false witness. Do you hope to be faithful in that regard?
Brent
God sends liar down to live with the Devil and you maam are lying like a dog. Schumer wants to protect our healthcare from the kooky cult who wants to take it away and give billionaires massive tax cuts!
JTD
It is not possible for non citizens to receive any benefits like MediCare or Social Security. There are laws in place that prevent that from being legal. The law provides only that emergency rooms must provide emergency care, to save any persons life regardless of citizenship status, or medical insurance. That care ends as soon as they are discharged from the hospital. The law will not change or be amended at this time nor is Schumer or any one else trying to to do that. They are fighting to keep millions of Dem. & Rep. citizens from getting kicked off medical coverage they now have. Nothing more nothing less.
Mimi C.
It’s difficult to make a rebuttal to someone who does not start with facts.
Honest C.
You hear what is commonly called “lies”. Try following actual main stream media.
Pat
You dumbass, get your facts sraight!
Sue I.
There is absolutely not true. Schumer is holding out for documented legal imigrants and American citizens.
The whole reason behind this is insurance doubling due to Obamacare subsidies expiring and Trump will not consider extendin them.
Also Medicaid for citizens in need, not illegal immigrants.
A law was passed in 1996 making it illegal for illegal immigrants to benefit from these social programs.
Jason H.
What the kikes are doing to this country is an absolute disgrace – both jew-controlled parties are to blame for this.
Emma B.
I hope everything gets resolved as soon as possible. A social state should always consider its people and not victimize them. Buca
Ron W.
Our raise should be at least 8% for 2026
Mary H.
Agreed since every raise we have received Medicare has increased our monthly cost to pay
Therefore we do not receive the full percentage increase SS states we will receive
It’s a false statement
Ryan s.
Payment for my mother major delay today for 5he first time ever. She spending her time today looking for her check and being told government shut down has nothing to do with it??????? Very strange
Lisa A.
Contact your Congressman. They will straighten it out quickly. The same thing happened to my mother.
Tony
Senator Schumer is protecting the healthcare premium tax credits for millions of individuals and families. The Republicans are cruel and want to take this away. The healthcare premium tax credit needs to be extended before open enrollment on November 1, 2025.
There is less than 14 days before open enrollment starts, and the Republicans will lose Republican voters confidence when they can’t sign up for healthcare insurance coverage on the ACA Marketplace or get the healthcare tax credit on their tax return.
This healthcare premium tax credit isn’t for the poor because those poor people have Medicaid.
The government shutdown will probably end before November 1, 2025 because it will be very bad for Republicans when people can’t sign up for open enrollment in the ACA Healthcare Marketplace.
When you are one of the millions who use the healthcare premium tax credit, the Republicans isn’t looking out for your interest. The Republicans only want to see if they can increase your ACA healthcare plan cost without any opposition from the democrats.
Low income family adding family members to their employer’s insurance won’t be able to get the healthcare tax credit on their tax return after January 1, 2026 because the tax credit would have ended.
The Republicans are at fault for the government shutdown.
Barbara
No. The Republicans have a CLEAN CR to continue the government while they work in the issues the two sides have. The democrats are holding the government hostage until they get what they want. They could agree to the CR kept the government open and worked together to make changes to the healthcare after the CR is approved
Diane L.
I am neither a Republican nor Democrat. The Democrats are out of their mind! Do some fact checking and you’ll see that it is a totally clean CR they have approved I believe it’s 13 times in the past. If President Trump had a cure for cancer they would try to take him to court! There’s no president in the history of the United States that has done what President Trump has already accomplished. The Constitution was written for the people by the people and represents us. Since one was it acceptable to disrespect or get in the face/intimidate our law-enforcement of any kind! They are ILLEGAL immigrants! The definition of illegal is against the law! The Constitution was also written for United States citizens… They have no constitutional rights. I could go on and on! Fact check people! Good job Barbara! At least you’re not a sheeple…..lol!
mike
Fact check this–Donald Trump is a CONVICTED FELON And should be in jail!!
mike m.
Fact check this–Donald Trump is a CONVICTED FELON!!
Sue M.
The Republicans have no intention of “negotiating”. They are the ones who took away the tax credit for ACA premiums in the first place. They are the ones who gutted funding for social services. They showed zero willingness to negotiate anything. And they used the money they took away from supporting the only insurance poor people can afford to give big tax breaks to the wealthy. And now, when the Democrats use the only power they have to try and hold them accountable for those decisions, they say “Oh please don’t let the government shut down, you have to pass our continuing resolution so we can keep on doing exactly whatever we want to help our rich friends. We’ll ‘negotiate’ later.” There is no way you can trust them.
Lisa A.
Did you not understand the post above this ? November 1 is the deadline to sign up. This needs to be done now. Republicans do not care if 15 million people lose health insurance. Theirs is paid for life by our tax dollars. While they lie about Dems wanting to give health care to illegal
Immigrants, which is not even possible, another 20 billion just went to Argentina but they can’t afford to fund the ACA tax credit for American citizens. By the way, if you think this won’t affect you because you are on employer sponsored insurance , you are wrong. Yours will go up also. You will be paying for the people that no longer have health insurance.
Peggy H.
Lord open the eyes of the Democrats. We would have lot better world if people stopped voting Democrat. When I was younger I took the advice of my grandfather a lot, an I ask him one day why his chickens would fly out of there field the grass was the same,he replied there isn’t any in this world as stupid as a chicken an I ask him what was that an his reply was ,a democrat .
Christine
Schumer wants to fund healthcare for illegals on American citizens’ dime. Let it stay shutdown until the democrats STOP trying to spend our money to fund illegals. American citizens are living (barely) from paycheck to paycheck, while illegals live on money that could make our lives better. Why do you not get that?
Eric
Stop believing lies you nonce.
Eric
Absolute nonsense. Extending the Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTC) does not fund illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants aren’t even part of this program.
JTD
Trump just gave a $40 Billion dollar bailout to Brazil who just sold their soy beans to China. China was buying those same soy beans from USA farmers until Trump started a trade war with them. Many US farmers are now facing bankruptcy because China took their business to Brazil rather than pay tariffs imposed by Trump. Many will lose their farms unless they get a bailout like Trump just gave to the country who undercut our farmers.Trump is giving bailouts to the country who signed 10 yr. contracts for soy beans our farmers can no longer sale anywhere. Our taxes are paying for the 40 Billion to Brazil & will pay for any bailout going to help our farmers. None of this would have happened if Trump had not started a trade war with our farmers biggest soy bean customer. Pay attention!
John H.
The Republicans are simply trying to stop illegals from receiving benefits which belong to you, the American citizen.
Dale E.
You are wrong, Democrats voted to end subsidies to the failing ACA at the end of 2025, this has nothing to do with lowering prices for the ACA, this is about giving illegals free health insurance, while the premiums raise for those who pay for the ACA, Democrats are doing this so they dont have to admit the ACA eugenics program was a failure and is unsustainable, Any party who refuses to pass a clean CR is in fact responsible for the shutdown, no matter which party it is..
Miriam B.
Massive facts! They have the power to end the shutdown but clearly Johnson wants to protect the PDFiles. Not only will these gross men have to answer to their constituents, but they’re gonna have to answer to God for their lies and perversions.
Mjd
There should not be a government shut down period. Both parties should work it out and the American citizens should not suffer for it.
Linda P.
When are all ssi and ss people going to get a relief check. We’re old and it’s truly pay your bills or buy groceries. We just can’t do it all anymore.
Debbie E.
When young people decide to work!
Edwina C.
Congress and the Senate who won’t sign PT’s bill should not get paid . They cause this mess and confusion. They work for the people, right? Do they understand that? I’m undoubted fed up with them. Especially Suhumer. There should also be a time limit on your years in both Congress and the Senate, age too!!