Government shutdown could disrupt key services for older Americans

Lawmakers in Congress are edging the federal government closer to a shutdown, with a Tuesday midnight looming as the date to pass a temporary funding bill. Without a deal, the impacts will be felt nationwide — including among seniors.

During a shutdown, non-essential government functions pause, while essential operations such as defense, law enforcement, air traffic control, and Treasury debt services continue. Mandatory spending programs, including Social Security and Medicare, also remain funded.

Still, seniors would likely encounter disruptions. While Social Security checks would continue, services at the Social Security Administration (SSA) — such as issuing new cards, processing benefit applications and handling overpayment cases — would be limited or halted.

Medicare, Medicaid, and disability beneficiaries would continue to receive benefits, but a shutdown can cause administrative delays and longer call wait times for certain services.

“A government shutdown would jeopardize critical services that seniors rely on, from Social Security offices and Medicare assistance to veterans’ benefits and health programs,” said Andy Mangione, senior vice president of Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC), in a statement. “The confusion, backlogs, and service disruptions that accompany a shutdown create needless anxiety and hardship for older Americans living on fixed incomes.” 

AMAC, which has more than 2 million members nationwide, is urging Congress to pass a clean Continuing Resolution (CR).

Economists note the broader economic fallout from shutdowns is typically modest. Bank of America Global Research estimates a full shutdown starting Oct. 1 would shave about 0.1 percentage point off gross domestic product growth per week, though that drag is usually reversed in future quarters.

Since 1977, there have been 20 shutdowns, seven of which lasted longer than the eight-day average. Recent high-profile lapses include the 16-day shutdown in 2013 and the record 35-day impasse in 2018-19.

Operationally, shutdowns have historically furloughed around 800,000 federal employees, though the number would be somewhat lower today due to reduced staffing levels. 

President Donald Trump has said he would seek large-scale permanent federal workforce cuts if a shutdown takes effect. Any plan to avert a shutdown will need bipartisan support to clear the 60-vote threshold in the Senate.