Government Shut Down and the Elderly

No matter which side of the aisle you're on or who you want to blame for the government shut down, we find ourselves dealing with the consequences.  "Essential" services will continue while "non-essential" services will be suspended.  What does that mean for us and our loved ones? I have identified many government programs that our seniors depend on and noted the status of each during the shut down.

These programs will continue to be operational during the government shut down:

• US Mail - Should continue without any interruptions
• Food safety inspections - Should continue without any interruptions
• Social Security Checks - Should continue without any interruptions
• Food Stamps - Should continue without interruptions
• CDC - Will continue to operate though there will be significant limitations, see below
• Medicare - Will continue to operate with some limitations, see below
• VA - Will continue to operate with limitations, see below
• Medicaid - Should continue without interruptions

These programs will not operate or will operate with limited services during the shut down:

• Social Security Applications - New applications for benefits may not be processed
• Social Security Appeals - Will not be processed
• Social Security Replacement Card Requests - Will not be processed
• Social Security Benefit Verification Statement Requests - Will not be processed
• Social Security Earnings Record Requests - Will not be processed
• Social Security Appeals for Denial of Benefits - Will not be processed
• Medicare Applications - New applications for benefits may not be processed
• Medicare Appeals for Denial of Benefits - Will not be processed
• VA Appeals for Denial of Benefits - Will not be processed
• CDC Ability to Investigate - CDC will have extremely limited resources to investigate reports of outbreaks and other serious health concerns
• CDC Assistance to State and Local Governments - Will be unavailable
• CDC Annual Influenza Program - (Tracks the flu and helps people get shots) Will be closed

If you or a loved one depends on these or other programs that depend on federal funding, begin making contingency plans now.  The shut down may last hours or it may last weeks, but when these offices resume "normal" operations it will take time for them to catch up with work that accumulated during the shut down.

If you or a loved one experiences significant difficulties because of an unavailable service a qualified Elder Care Consultant or Geriatric Care Manager may be able to help you make suitable arrangements until services resume.