FAQ

Will federal employees get back pay?

• Yes. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act mandates that both furloughed and essential employees are compensated for the period of lapsed funding when the shutdown ends.

• Government employees will not be paid during the shutdown.

• Most government contractors will not be paid backpay.

Will I receive my Social Security check?

• Yes. Social Security is considered "mandatory spending," and checks will continue to go out.

• However, federal employees at the Social Security Administration may be furloughed, and you may see a delay in customer service, benefit verifications, or card issuances. 

Will food programs like SNAP and WIC continue?

• Food programs like SNAP and WIC may have limited leftover funds to continue some services, but they will quickly run out of resources and be unable to provide food for families in need.

• If federal food programs close down, there are some local organizations that may be able to assist.

Will the Postal Office remain open?

• Yes, the U.S. Postal Service is self-funded.

Will Medicare and Medicaid shut down?

• Medicaid and Medicare should continue operations. However, you may have trouble contacting them or experience long wait times as many employees will be furloughed.

Do members of the military remain on duty?

• Yes. However, our brave servicemembers will not be paid.

Will the VA still be open?

• Almost all VA Hospitals should remain open with most medical staff working without pay.

• Most veterans benefits should continue, although processing new claims or adjusting current benefits may be severely affected. 

• While VA cemetery and benefits operations will continue, agencies upon whom they depend will not. For example, the VA cannot verify someone's military service while the National Archives are closed, meaning veterans not currently in the VA system may see a delay in care.

Can I still get a federal housing loan?

• No, the Federal Housing Administration will stop approving applications for housing loans.

Can I travel outside of the country?

• Yes, TSA officers, customs, and air traffic controllers will work without pay during a shutdown.

• Additionally, passport operations and embassy services should continue.

Will I receive my tax refund?

• As of September 30, the IRS has not yet released a shutdown plan. In past shutdowns, IRS customer service was limited and tax refunds were delayed. 

Will Student Loans be disbursed?

• Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans will continue to be paid out, but only while remaining funds last.

• Note that federal employees supporting these programs are significantly reduced during a shutdown.

• If a shutdown continues for an extended period of time, local school districts, colleges, and universities may begin to experience budget shortages due to lapsed federal funding.

How does a shutdown impact small businesses?

• The Small Business Administration (SBA) will not accept, review, or approve any new small business loans during a shutdown.

What about National Parks or Capitol tours?

• Tours and visitor centers at all federal buildings will close, including at the U.S. Capitol, White House, FBI, and Library of Congress.

• National Parks will close on a location-by-location basis. Open air parks will likely remain accessible but museums and access roads may close.

• Educational programs, restrooms, trash collection, and road repairs will also shut down at many federal sites.