The debate over the federal budget left the United States government teetering on the edge of a historic shutdown on October 1, 2019. This threat of a government shutdown came as the President and Congress could not agree on the terms of a spending bill to fund the government. With a looming November deadline, the public is rightfully concerned about the future of their Social Security payments, student loan payments, food stamps, and other federal programs.
This government shutdown would have far reaching implications for not just the federal government, but all those citizens who are dependent on its services. In the event that the government does shut down, Social Security payments would be safe and unaffected. Social Security is primarily funded by the payroll tax, and the funds collected through it are separate from the funding that has been vetoed by Congress. The Social Security Administration is not subject to shutdown procedures.
In addition to Social Security, student loan payments would likely also remain unaffected. Under the government shutdown plan, student loan payments would be subject to a “partial shutdown” status rather than a full closure. This means that the Department of Education would still be able to process loan payments, just not a normal level.
Another important government program that would stay open during a partial shutdown is SNAP, or food stamps. SNAP and other similar programs are considered “essential” and therefore would be exempt from the shutdown. While the government shutdown would mean a disruption to services, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the program would remain open and the payments would still be disbursed.
It’s possible that if Congress and the President can’t agree to a spending plan by the November deadline, the government could shut down. However, it’s important to remember that if the government does shut down, Social Security payments, student loan payments, and food stamps would all remain untouched and available for citizens to use.