As the government shutdown nears the two-week mark, making it one of the longest shutdowns ever, several federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration, remain impacted by furloughs and cannot operate as usual.
Thousands of SSA employees have been furloughed in the administration’s plans to handle the shutdown, in turn limiting the agency’s available services during the shutdown.
However, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income payments continue despite the shutdown. These benefit programs are not affected by the shutdown, so the ongoing standoff between lawmakers does not impact Social Security payments.
Social Security: Here’s who gets payments this week on Oct. 15
But other areas that SSA oversees, including how the cost of living adjustment (COLA) affects benefits, have been impacted. Here’s what to know.
Are Social Security payments still going out during shutdown?
Yes, Social Security payments, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and benefits for retirement, disability and survivors, continue during a government shutdown.
Because Social Security benefit programs are considered mandatory spending by law, they are not impacted by the lapse in funding appropriations caused by the shutdown. Payments are still distributed on a regular schedule during the shutdown.
How much do Ohioans receive from Social Security COLA?
Before we look at the forecasted COLA increase and how a 1-2 punch could wipe it out, let’s look at how many people in Ohio could be affected.
According to the SSA website, Ohio beneficiaries received $4.23 billion in total payments each month in 2023. Nearly 2.5 million Ohioans were beneficiaries of Social Security. That included:
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Retired workers (1,779,927)
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Disabled workers (305,732)
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Widows, widowers, and parents (159,964)
In 2024, Ohio’s Social Security benefit payments were predicted to rise by as much as $84.6 million per month with a new cost-of-living adjustment for 2025. That amounted to $1.01 billion total in additional benefit payments in Ohio with COLA adjustments.
Does Ohio tax Social Security benefits?
No, according to the Ohio Department of Taxation. However, nine states do tax Social Security, according to Kiplinger.
October Social Security payment schedule
Social Security beneficiaries who were born between the 11th and 20th day of their birth month are set to receive their monthly benefit on Wednesday, Oct. 15, according to the SSA’s payment calendar.
See the full 2025 payment calendar:
Are Social Security offices open during shutdown?
Social Security offices are still open during the shutdown, but only some services are available. Per SSA, the following services are still available:
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Changing address or direct deposit information
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Accepting reports of death
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Verifying or changing citizenship status
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Replacing a lost or missing Social Security payment
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Issuing a critical payment
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Changing a representative payee
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Processing a change in living arrangement or income (SSI recipients only)
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Issuing new or replacement Social Security cards
The following Social Security services are not available during the shutdown:
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Replacing a Medicare card
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Issuing a proof of income letter
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Updating or correcting earnings record
Announcement of 2026 cost-of-living adjustment could be delayed because of shutdown
While the Social Security Administration was expected to announce the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026 on Oct. 15, it appears unlikely if the shutdown continues.
More: Seniors may have to wait to see what 2026 Social Security COLA is due to shutdown
The SSA would determine the annual COLA based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ September inflation report, which was initially slated to be released on Oct. 15.
However, nearly all of the bureau’s employees have been furloughed amid the shutdown. According to BLS’ shutdown plans, scheduled releases of BLS’ economic data, including the September consumer inflation report, “will likely be delayed if the lapse is prolonged.”
The release of the BLS’ September inflation report has been postponed to 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24.
Contributing: Medora Lee, Fernando Cervantes Jr., Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY; Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are Social Security payments still going out? How shutdown affects Ohio
