The government has shut down after lawmakers failed to break a deadlock and pass a stopgap spending bill, but one of the most pressing questions for millions of Americans has a simple answer—Social Security checks will keep coming.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) made clear in a contingency plan dated Sept. 24 that retirement, survivor, and disability benefits are not subject to annual budget fights and will continue to be paid on time. These programs are funded through payroll tax revenues and trust funds established under the Social Security Act, which shields them from the effects of a government shutdown.
