How a Government Shutdown Could Affect Your Life

What does a shutdown mean for Social Security payments? What about Medicare or Medicaid?
Agencies that have already received funding approval or operate on a permanent funding basis are supposed to continue to operate as usual during a shutdown. Both the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services fall under that category. Thus, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid would continue to run during a shutdown.
However, in past shutdowns, both agencies have cut back on some services. Some field offices reduced operations, halting the issuance of new Social Security cards, replacement Medicare cards, and benefit verifications. The Social Security Administration’s last contingency plan envisioned furloughing thousands of employees—a scale that could again slow responses for beneficiaries needing assistance.
How would a shutdown impact veterans?
The Veterans Health Administration is funded through advance appropriations, meaning much of its work continues even if annual funding lapses. But services outside the health system, including some administrative functions and benefits processing, could be delayed.
What does a shutdown mean for food assistance programs like SNAP and WIC?
A loss in funding could significantly disrupt the federal Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, which provides groceries to low-income families. A White House official tells TIME that the program is on track to run out of the money it would need to accept new applicants starting Oct. 1. If that happens, states are expected to stop providing assistance to eligible new applicants almost immediately. The Trump Administration previously requested Congress to approve additional funds for the WIC nutrition program. That funding is included in the stopgap spending bill that passed in the House, but is short of votes in the Senate.
“If Democrats shut down the government, they will be responsible for the WIC program not having enough resources to add new beneficiaries,” the White House official said.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, would continue during a shutdown as it is considered mandatory spending. But the Agriculture Department would only be authorized to send out benefits for 30 days after a shutdown begins, meaning a prolonged shutdown could impact the program.
Are the national parks going to close?
During a shutdown, recreational facilities funded by the federal government would be forced to close, leaving travelers and tourists unable to visit national park facilities or the Smithsonian museums in Washington. The National Park Service estimated that a 2013 government shutdown led to a $500 million loss in visitor spending nationwide.
Does the mail stop getting delivered during a shutdown?
No, the Postal Service is self-funded through its own revenues, not annual appropriations. Mail delivery, package services, and post office operations continue without interruption.
Is ICE impacted by a government shutdown?