How Does the Federal Government Shutdown Impact You | Social Security Matters

Congress failed to reach an agreement on funding beginning January 31, 2026. Until further notice, the federal government is shut down. We understand that you may have questions and will do our best to answer them for you.

Your payments will not be impacted. 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 benefitsRequest an appealChange your address or direct deposit informationReport a deathVerify or change your citizenship statusReplace a lost or missing Social Security paymentObtain a critical paymentChange a representative payeeMake a change in your living arrangement or income (SSI recipients only)Obtain a new or replacement Social Security card

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.

Hearings offices remain open to conduct hearings before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).

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.