How Government Shutdown Could Impact Social Security Benefits In Rhode Island

The ongoing federal government shutdown is affecting how Rhode Island's 236,877 Social Security recipients do business with the agency.

Benefits are considered mandatory spending and will continue uninterrupted through the shutdown. However, thousands of Social Security Administration employees — about 12% of the staff — have been furloughed and services not directly related to paying benefits may be halted.

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Below are some things to know:

Will October Payments Be On Time?

Rhode Island beneficiaries shouldn’t see a change in when Social Security benefits are paid, according to the agency’s payment calendar:

• Beneficiaries born between the first and 10th day of their birth month received their payment on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
• Beneficiaries born between the 11th and 20th day of their birth month will receive their payment on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
• Beneficiaries born between the 21st and 31st day of their birth month will receive their payment on Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Because Nov. 1 falls on a Saturday, Supplemental Security Income recipients will receive their November payment early, on Friday, Oct. 31.

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What Services Are Available?

Local Social Security offices remain open during the shutdown. According to the agency’s website, they will accommodate those:

• Applying for benefits
• Requesting an appeal
• Changing address or direct deposit information
• Accepting reports of death
• Verifying or changing citizenship status
• Replacing a lost or missing Social Security payment
• Issuing a critical payment
• Changing a representative payee
• Processing a change in living arrangement or income (SSI recipients only)
• Issuing new or replacement Social Security cards

What Services Will Be Delayed?

Local offices won’t replace Medicare cards, issue a proof of income letter, or update or correct an earnings record.

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The agency’s Online Services portal will remain open to handle requests for replacement Medicare cards and proof of income letters. These can be requested through a beneficiary’s “my Social Security” account.

What’s Happening With 2026 COLA?

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The announcement of the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security recipients in 2026 has been delayed because of the shutdown.

That was supposed to happen on Oct. 15, based on the September Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation report; however, the BLS has paused most of its services because of the shutdown. The BLS now plans to release the inflation report on Oct. 24, and the Social Security Administration will announce the COLA on the same day, USA Today reported.

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