How the government shutdown is affecting Social Security
This is what to know about Social Security payments during the ongoing government shutdown.
Those who get Supplemental Security Income checks won’t get a check during the calendar month of November – instead, they will get one a few days early, in October.
November SSI payments are scheduled to go out on Friday, Oct. 31, according to the Social Security Administration’s calendar. SSI payments are typically issued on the first day of the month, but when the first of the month lands on a weekend or a holiday, as it does in November (Nov. 1 is a Saturday), payments go out early.
A similar situation happened in August, with SSI recipients getting payments on Aug. 1 and Aug. 29 – and the case will arise again in January, with that month’s check being issued Dec. 31, according to the SSA calendar.
Another change: Most beneficiaries who get SSI and Social Security will be getting payments sent to their bank account or to a Direct Express card. That’s because President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March to stop the issuance of paper checks by the federal government, with a Sept. 30 deadline for compliance.
Will SSI payments be affected by the government shutdown?
No. While thousands of SSA employees have been furloughed, Social Security and SSI payments will continue with no change in payment dates. That’s because money for the benefit programs is considered mandatory spending by law, meaning its budget is not dependent on yearly congressional approval, according to the SSA.
However, other services provided by the SSA, such as processing new applications, can be impacted by shutdowns and the resulting lack of workers and movement in government systems.
When are SSI payments sent out for October? See full 2025 payment schedule
SSI beneficiaries will also get two checks in October and December. That’s because the first date of the following month lands on a weekend or holiday.
Here are the dates for SSI payments for the rest of 2025 and into early 2026, according to the SSA calendar:
- Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 (Check for November 2025)
- Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 (Check for December 2025)
- Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 (Check for January 2026)
- Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 (Check for February 2026)
- Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 (Check for March 2026)
- Wednesday, April 1, 2026 (Check for April 2026)
- Friday, May 1, 2026 (Check for May 2026)
- Monday, June 1, 2026 (Check for June 2026)
What is SSI?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides benefits for persons with limited or no income or resources, those aged 65 or older, and those who are blind or have a qualifying disability. Children with a qualifying disability are eligible for SSI, according to the Social Security Administration’s website. About 7.4 million Americans currently get monthly SSI payments.
Adults who earn more than $2,019 from work monthly, typically do not qualify for benefits. About one-third of SSI recipients also get Social Security benefits.
To see if you are eligible for SSI, visit the Social Security website. You can also go in person to your local Social Security office, or by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time during the work week.
Contributing: USA TODAY’s Fernando Cervantes Jr. and Mary Walrath-Holdridge
Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com
What’s everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day