The standoff between Republicans and Democrats over a government funding bill has triggered a shutdown that could hit older adults, especially low income seniors who rely on federal funded support programs, especially hard.
The good news: Social Security and Medicare checks will continue. The less good news: Support staff, already reduced by Trump Administration cuts, have been furloughed, so it will become increasingly difficult to deal with payment or enrollment problems. The even worse news: key programs supported by federal funding may run out of money (Meals on Wheels is a good example). According to the organization, “9 out of 10 Meals on Wheels providers receive federal funding, and for more than 60%, that funding represents half or more of their total budget.” Most Meals on Wheels providers can run on current resources for a few weeks, but since many are thinly financed, a longer shutdown could lead to curtailment of services, or even an organizational closure. Payments to cover subsidized housing for low-income seniors could also be threatened. During the last shutdown, more than 1,000 housing contracts expired and could not be renewed until HUD reopened its doors. Ultimately, that resulted only in delayed payments, though it is not entirely possible to know how it could play out this time.
The ultimate impact will largely depend upon how long the shutdown goes. Most shutdowns in recent history have been relatively brief – at eight days, this one is already on the longer side – but they have been getting longer. The last shutdown, during President Trump’s first term in 2018-19, lasted 35 days and this one could go as long, or even longer.