Hi, everyone. The "impossible" has happened. Congress has failed to pass a budget and the government is shutting down. As a result of this, all government agencies will be affected including the Social Security Administration (SSA).
In a September 25, 2013 letter to the Office of Management and Budget, the Social Security Administration laid out its contingency plan during a potential lapse in Federal appropriations and partial shutdown of agency operations.
SSA must cease all activities for which their annual funding has expired unless an exception to the Antideficiency Act applies. A Department of Justice memorandum indicates that necessary activities include disbursing Social Security benefits that "operate under indefinite appropriations."
This means that funding for programs under Titles II (which includes Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits), XVI (Supplemental Security Income) and XVIII (Medicare health benefits) will continue. This is because Title II and Title XVIII benefits are funded indefinitely through trust funds. Title XVI payments are funded through general revenues (through the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2014).
While the above payments will continue, operations at Field Offices, State Disability Determination Services and hearing offices will be disrupted. The following is a link for the September 25, 2013 letter from SSA to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget specifying what activities will be continued and discontinued. http://socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/shutdown2013.pdf
We hope that this budget impasse will be resolved quickly to minimize the negative impact upon the Social Security Administration and all those relying upon its disability programs. Stay tuned more developments on this important issue.
Rich
In a September 25, 2013 letter to the Office of Management and Budget, the Social Security Administration laid out its contingency plan during a potential lapse in Federal appropriations and partial shutdown of agency operations.
SSA must cease all activities for which their annual funding has expired unless an exception to the Antideficiency Act applies. A Department of Justice memorandum indicates that necessary activities include disbursing Social Security benefits that "operate under indefinite appropriations."
This means that funding for programs under Titles II (which includes Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits), XVI (Supplemental Security Income) and XVIII (Medicare health benefits) will continue. This is because Title II and Title XVIII benefits are funded indefinitely through trust funds. Title XVI payments are funded through general revenues (through the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2014).
While the above payments will continue, operations at Field Offices, State Disability Determination Services and hearing offices will be disrupted. The following is a link for the September 25, 2013 letter from SSA to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget specifying what activities will be continued and discontinued. http://socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/shutdown2013.pdf
We hope that this budget impasse will be resolved quickly to minimize the negative impact upon the Social Security Administration and all those relying upon its disability programs. Stay tuned more developments on this important issue.
Rich