Will Social Security payments be affected by government shutdown?

As the government shutdown nears the two-week mark, several federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration (SSA) , remain impacted by furloughs and cannot operate as usual.

Thousands of SSA employees have been furloughed, in turn limiting the agency's available services during the shutdown.

However, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income payments are continuing as usual despite the lapse in federal funding appropriations. These benefit programs are not dependent on congressional approval , so the ongoing standoff between lawmakers does not impact Social Security payments.

But other areas that SSA oversees, including how the cost-of-living adjustment affects benefits, have been impacted. Here's what to know.

Are Social Security payments still goin