As a potential federal government shutdown looms, the fate of Social Security payments may be a concern for Ohio recipients expecting their scheduled benefits.
With the deadline fast approaching, Congress has until Sept. 30 to strike a compromise, but neither side appears to be budging in a debate where partisan gridlock could lead to the closing of everything except essential government services. Funding expires at midnight on Oct. 1.
The White House is asking federal agencies to prepare plans for mass firings if the government partially shuts down in the latest clash in the high-stakes confrontation between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats.
Will there be a government shutdown? Will it impact Social Security payments in Ohio? Here’s what we know.
What is a government shutdown? Why does it happen?
A government shutdown happens when non-essential discretionary federal programs close due to a lack of funding when Congress fails to agree on a budget or temporary funding measures.
During a government shutdown, federal workers who are deemed non-essential stop coming to work and getting paid. Essential workers in fields such as the U.S. Postal Service, Medicare, military, Social Security services and air-traffic control continue to work without pay and are eventually reimbursed when the government reopens. However, agencies considered non-essential, such as national parks, would be impacted.
Will Social Security payments still come if the government shuts down?
Yes. The Social Security Administration is projected to pay out $1.6 trillion to 72 million beneficiaries this year, and a shutdown won’t disrupt those payments, per USA TODAY reporting.
Money for Social Security benefit programs is not part of the federal government’s budget, so Social Security payments will still come in during any possible shutdown. However, staffing and some services could be impacted if they have a discretionary spending component, according to the Committee for a Responsible Budget, a nonprofit that studies federal fiscal policy.
How many people in Ohio receive Social Security benefits?
According to the SSA website, Ohioans who are 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 in total 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?
The answer is no, according to the Ohio Department of Taxation. However, nine states do tax Social Security, according to Kiplinger.
2025 Social Security payment calendar
September is the last month that you can receive a paper check for your Social Security payments as the agency shifts to electronic payments, The Enquirer previously reported.
Are Medicare benefits still paid during a government shutdown?
Medicare benefits continue during a government shutdown, though payment delays are possible.
Why is there a possible 2025 government shutdown?
USA TODAY reports that a main sticking point in current shutdown negotiations revolves around Medicaid funding, as many Democrats have pushed to reverse recent cuts to the program enacted as part of Trump’s major tax and spending law.
Obamacare subsidies set to expire at the end of the year are also a main talking point. If Congress doesn’t intervene, millions could see their health care premiums rise.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How Ohio Social Security payments will be affected by government shutdown
