Several Social Security Administration (SSA) changes are arriving this month for beneficiaries. On October 15, the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be finalized for next year, determining the adjustment for benefit increases to take effect in January.

The failure to reach a budget agreement will shut down much of the federal government on Wednesday, but that won’t stop the flow of several critical benefits, including Social Security retirement and disability payments, which are sent to more than 74 million people each month.

The government has shut down. Here is a look at how the Social Security Administration and millions of Americans who depend on its service are affected.

Here's the bottom line: Social Security recipients will continue to collect benefits during the federal shutdown, but the 2026 COLA announcement will be delayed if the government remains closed by Oct. 15. However, assuming benefits increase 2.7% to 2.8% next year, the average retired worker will receive an addition $54 to $56 per month.

Older Americans who want to see by how much their Social Security checks will increase next year may have to wait until the government shutdown ends.

Americans that rely on Social Security will still receive payments, though they may experience some service disruptions