How shutdown could affect you
Benefits
• Recipients of Social Security, SSI, unemployment insurance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, food stamps and some other programs will continue to receive benefits. However, some processes related to applying for or appealing these benefits could be stopped.
• In the last shutdown, some physician payments from Medicare and Medicaid were slightly delayed, but the programs continued running.
• Congress has already explicitly funded veterans hospitals, so they won't be affected by the shutdown.
Government facilities
• Local parks, schools, libraries and city government buildings will be open because they are not controlled by the federal government.
• Congress has already explicitly funded federal prisons, so they aren't affected.
• Federal courts have at least three more weeks of funding after a government shutdown.
• Congress will continue to work, though some low-level staff may not get paid.
• Most federal office buildings will be shut down and the employees sent home.