With the government shutdown now into its third week, Social Security beneficiaries have been assured that their monthly checks will continue to arrive. But if the budget stalemate stretches into late October or November, deeper strains on the Social Security Administration (SSA) could begin to affect millions of people who depend on in-person services, claims processing, and appeals rather than on the payments themselves.
Growing Backlogs and Slower Decisions
Retirement and disability claims are still being processed by “excepted” personnel, but a prolonged shutdown threatens to slow determinations, reconsiderations, and hearings before administrative law judges (ALJs). Disability attorneys report early signs of strain.
Routine tasks such as correcting overpayments, updating earnings records, and investigating fraud are suspended during the shutdown. While these functions do not immediately affect benefit checks, they are vital to ensuring accuracy and preventing long-term errors. Prolonged interruptions could produce cascading delays and undermine confidence in the system’s reliability.
“The biggest impact falls on people who are in the middle of applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI),” Disparti Law added.
Without adequate staffing and funding, DDS offices cannot collect medical records, schedule consultative exams, or advance cases.
Attorney Tereasa Rerko of the Quatrini Law Group warned that the effects are already being felt in legal proceedings.
She said that federal courts—including those handling Social Security appeals—have paused nearly all cases.
Field Offices Open—But With Limits
Social Security field offices remain open but are operating under strict limitations, according to a shutdown update from SSA. Staff are still able to assist with essential functions such as helping the public apply for benefits, processing appeals, changing direct deposit information, reporting deaths, replacing missing payments, and issuing new or replacement Social Security cards.
However, several services that beneficiaries frequently rely on have been suspended during the shutdown. Field offices are not processing in-person requests for replacement Medicare cards, issuing proof-of-income or benefit verification letters, correcting earnings records, or conducting public outreach or routine administrative updates.
Hearings Continue—But Support Staff Do Not
Hearings before administrative law judges are considered essential and remain scheduled. But hearings rely on a network of clerks, writers, and staff who prepare case files and write decisions. When these employees are furloughed, hearings may proceed on paper, but decisions are delayed in reality.
“In past shutdowns, the SSA prioritized keeping hearing offices open, but even then, cases moved slower,” Disparti Law Group noted.
“Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) continued hearings already on the calendar, yet new hearings and decisions were often delayed because supporting staff—clerks, writers, and record reviewers—were on furlough.
“That same bottleneck is expected again if the shutdown continues.”
