The U.S. government shut down on Wednesday after Congress failed to approve funding for federal agencies. Here's how that could affect Social Security recipients.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that roughly 750,000 government employees would be furloughed each day during the shutdown. While the changes in services at local Social Security offices are not tied to the government shutdown, any update in reduced services could make it more difficult for recipients to receive their benefits.

Social Security beneficiaries will soon find out the size of the cost-of-living adjustment for 2026. There's a debate over the way those increases are measured.

While payments continue flowing, certain in-person services have been suspended during the three-week shutdown.

The employee has worked at SSA headquarters in Woodlawn for close to 20 years and has seen a fair share of shutdowns, but nothing like this he says.

The SSA uses September’s CPI to chart cost-of-living adjustments, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics has halted data collection.

Yes, Social Security payments, including Supplemental Security Income and benefits for retirement, disability and survivors, continue during a government shutdown.

Democrats want President Donald Trump to get involved in shutdown negotiations. Senate Majority Leader John Thune says, "Open up the government first."