What a 2013 Government Shutdown Means for GMHC

Q: If the federal government shuts down today at midnight because of Congress, how will it affect me? Will I still get my social security check?

A: Thankfully, Social Security is a mandatory program that is not subject to spending approval by Congress. All Social Security benefits will continue. And, since the U.S. Post Office acts as an independent business, you'll still receive those checks in the mail!

Q: What about my unemployment benefits?

A: Yes! According to the U.S. Department of Labor all "essential" functions of the department will continue, including distribution of unemployment benefits.

Q: What about Food Stamps?

A: Yes! According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) don't expire for another year.

Q: Does this mean that ObamaCare is cut too?

A: Most of the funding for Affordable Care Act (ACA) programs is like the funding for Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare…these programs continue even during a government shutdown.

Q: Ok, last question. What does a shutdown mean for GMHC?

A: Most of the funding for GMHC's programs does come from the federal government. However, our strategic reserves are large enough to continue providing all of our programs and services for a number of months. The shutdown should be over long before then. The longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history only lasted for 21 days.

For more information, check out USA Today's "66 Questions and Answers About the Government Sutdown" here.