Now that it is official that the government shutdown has commenced, there are probably some current Social Security beneficiaries and potential ones who are wondering how this shutdown is going to impact benefits and Social Security disability claims.
The good news is, if you are currently receiving retirement or disability benefits, you will continue to do so regardless of the shutdown. Those who are in the process of applying for Social Security disability are going to face some potential road blocks though.
Below is a list of services that Social Security has discontinued due to the current federal government shutdown.
- Screening pre-hearing disability cases for on-the record decisions. Social Security would occasionally attempt to find in favor of an applicant without going to a hearing.
- Disability hearings will not be scheduled during the shutdown. This could create a backlog of applicants who have waited 12-15 months for a hearing and now have to wait even longer before the hearing is scheduled.
- Once a hearing has been adjudicated by an Administrative Law Judge, the ALJ will issue the decision to a decision writer, who authors the official decision. This is on hold until the shutdown is over.
- Social Security will also stop exhibiting case files for ALJs, which helps prepare ALJs and attorneys for hearings.
- If an applicant receives an unfavorable decision from an ALJ, there is the option to appeal that decision to the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council will not take action on any hearing appeal during the shutdown.
- Social Security will also stop preparing electronic records for claimants and representatives during the shutdown.
- Social Security has also ceased Continuing Disability Reviews, which ensure that a disability recipient is still disabled after a period of time.
For more information about what Social Security will continue to do and won’t do during the shutdown visit www.ssa.gov
