Impact of government shutdown on social security
Here’s what you need to know about Social Security payments during the ongoing government shutdown.
People who receive Supplemental Security Income checks cannot receive their checks during the calendar month of November. Instead, you’ll receive your check a few days early in October.
According to the Social Security Administration’s calendar, November’s SSI payments are scheduled to be made on Friday, October 31st. SSI payments are typically issued on the first of the month, but if the first of the month falls on a weekend or holiday, such as in November (November 1 is a Saturday), payments will be issued earlier.
A similar situation occurred in August, with SSI recipients receiving payments on August 1st and August 29th, but according to the SSA calendar, a lawsuit would occur again in January and that month’s checks would be issued on December 31st.
Another change: Most beneficiaries who receive SSI and Social Security will receive payments into their bank accounts or Direct Express cards. That’s because President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March that stopped the federal government from issuing paper checks, with a September 30 deadline to comply.
Are SSI payments affected by the government shutdown?
No, even though thousands of SSA employees have been furloughed, Social Security and SSI payments will continue without change in pay date. SSA said funding for welfare programs is considered mandatory spending by law because its funding is not dependent on annual Congressional approval.
However, other services provided by SSA, such as the processing of new applications, may be affected by government system shutdowns and resulting employee shortages and displacement.
When will my October SSI payment be sent? See the full 2025 payment schedule
SSI beneficiaries will also receive two checks in October and December. This is because the first day of the next month falls on a weekend or holiday.
According to the SSA calendar, SSI payment dates for the remainder of 2025 through early 2026 are:
- Friday, October 31, 2025 (confirmed for November 2025)
- Monday, December 1, 2025 (confirmed in December 2025)
- Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (confirmed for January 2026)
- Friday, January 30, 2026 (confirmed for February 2026)
- Friday, February 27, 2026 (check for March 2026)
- Wednesday, April 1, 2026 (confirmed in April 2026)
- Friday, May 1, 2026 (Please check May 2026)
- Monday, June 1, 2026 (confirmed in June 2026)
What is SSI?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides benefits to people with limited or no income or assets, people age 65 and older, and people who are blind or have a qualifying disability. According to the Social Security Administration’s website, children with eligible disabilities are eligible for SSI. Approximately 7.4 million Americans currently receive monthly SSI payments.
Adults who earn more than $2,019 per month from work are generally not eligible for benefits. About one-third of SSI recipients also receive Social Security benefits.
To see if you qualify for SSI, visit the Social Security website. You can also visit your local Social Security office in person or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time on weekdays.
Contributed by Fernando Cervantes Jr. and Mary Walrath-Holdridge of USA TODAY
Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com
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