As top congressional Republican and Democratic leaders dig in their heels—a signal that the ongoing federal government shutdown may continue for awhile—many older Americans are wondering if they will still get their Social Security checks, and question how a prolonged showdown will affect their future benefits.

Currently thousands of federal employees are working without pay, and President Donald Trump is threatening mass federal layoffs.

For now, the Social Security Administration (SSA), continues to issue retirement and disability benefits, but is furloughing 12% of its staff, per USA Today. (Medicare and Medicaid payments also continue, as of this writing.)

However, the furlough could delay SSA’s announcement next week on October 15 on how much Social Security checks will increase in

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