Whoever is on the currently-losing end of the "shutdown" fight always makes that threat to try to pressure the other side by scaring voters, but it's essentially an empty threat:
Shutdowns Have Not Stopped Social Security Checks
Quote:
For example, Social Security's official history website shows that during the four-day government shutdown in 1995, the agency initially furloughed 61,415 employees on the first day, leaving only 4,780 employees at work. But on the second day of the shutdown, after stating that the furloughs had "significantly impacted the Agency's service to the public," Social Security was allows to recall additional employees to work.
During the second 1995 shutdown, which lasted three weeks, 55,000 Social Security employees remained at work and checks went out as usual.
Also keep in mind that in 1995, most Social Security benefit checks were still mailed to recipients. Today, most benefits are processed electronically through direct deposit, thus requiring fewer employees.
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Pols (regardless of party) have been known to tempt fate sometimes, but I've never seen one from either party actually shove their head into a lion's mouth.