EspañolSSD Myth Busters Episode 3
Myth: When the government shuts down, so does my disability case
As the federal government experiences another shutdown, many people are understandably concerned about how this affects Social Security. Fortunately, the core functions of the Social Security disability system will continue with little disruption.
Individuals who already receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will continue to receive their payments on time. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will also keep accepting and processing new disability applications, as well as pending claims at the initial, reconsideration, hearing, and Appeals Council levels. Administrative Law Judges, decision writers, and essential staff will continue to work, so hearings and decision writing are expected to proceed normally.
SSA has instructed state Disability Determination Services (DDS) offices to keep processing disability determinations and promised reimbursement once funding is restored. Because DDS staff are technically state employees, SSA cannot guarantee that every office will stay fully staffed, but in past shutdowns, claims processing continued without interruption.
SSA will also keep handling important post-entitlement actions such as changes of address, direct deposit updates, SSI living arrangement changes, and processing of overpayment remittances. Representative fees will continue to be paid, meaning attorneys and representatives will still receive fees on completed cases.
Some less essential functions are temporarily on hold, including processing overpayments, correcting earnings records, enrolling new representatives for electronic access, handling bias complaints, conducting certain quality reviews, processing Freedom of Information Act requests, and responding to third-party inquiries. These delays may cause minor inconvenience but will not affect benefit payments or the progress of disability claims.
While shutdowns can create uncertainty, the disability system remains largely operational. Hearings, claims, and payments are still moving forward, and those with pending cases should continue to file, attend hearings, and stay in touch with their representatives. Our office is monitoring updates from NOSSCR and SSA closely and will share any new information that affects our clients. For now, you can be confident that your benefits and your case are continuing without interruption.
