What is a Government Shutdown?
Under the Antideficiency Act, federal agencies in the United States cannot spend or obligate any money without an appropriation (or other approval) from Congress. There are 12 annual appropriation bills that need to be enacted. When Congress fails to enact them, federal agencies must cease all non-essential functions. In other words, there is a government shutdown. If Congress enacts some bills, but not all 12 appropriation bills, only the agencies without appropriations will cease working. This is called a partial government shutdown.
During a US government shutdown, only federal employees deemed to provide essential services continue to work. However, they will not get paid until the shutdown is over. Some benefits will continue to be paid as they are authorized by Congress in laws that do not need annual approval.
There are several articles about the potential impacts on the U.S. economy and individual workers if a prolonged shutdown occurs. In comparison, this post will focus on some of the effects of a government shutdown on people with disabilities.
Could a government shutdown happen in Canada?
In short, no. Canada has never had a government shutdown.
Canada has a failsafe that ensures civil service would continue to operate even when there’s no budget. This prevents a government shutdown from ever actually occurring.
In Canada, if the ruling party can’t get enough votes to pass a budget, it’s considered a vote of non-confidence and a general election is triggered. Instead of shutting down, the ruling party can ask the governor general to issue a special warrant for funding during the election period.
What are the implications of a government shutdown on people with disabilities?
“This will definitely impact our community, as a significant number of federal actions that are important to the lives of everyday people with disabilities will happen more slowly or be on hold for the duration of a shutdown.”
Zoe Gross, director of advocacy at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network
A government shutdown in the U.S. can have various implications for people with disabilities. Primarily, as it would disrupt the functioning of federal agencies and programs that provide critical services and support. The extent of the impact will depend on how long the shutdown lasts and whether any appropriation bills are enacted.
People with disabilities are already particularly vulnerable for a variety of reasons. Many can’t work and are reliant on difficult to access government benefits and services. Others can only work part-time. Additionally, they may need to spend significant amounts of money on things others don’t, such as medications and medical supplies. A U.S. government shutdown will only make things harder.
Many people with disabilities living in the United States rely on different government programs. These include Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Programs (“SNAP”), and others. While these benefits will continue to be paid, they may still be affected by a government shutdown.
Here are some of the potential impacts of a government shutdown on people with disabilities:
Funding and Healthcare:
- Delayed Benefits: Social Security is a mandatory program. It is not funded by shorter-term appropriation bills. As such, its operations and funding don’t stop when the government shuts down. Medicare will also continue to be distributed during the shutdown.
- However, during a shutdown, many Social Security Administration employees will be furloughed. As staffing will be limited, it’s possible payments will be delayed, which may create financial instability for many recipients. It’s important to note that delays in these payments did not occur during previous US government shutdowns. More likely, a government shutdown could disrupt the processing of disability benefit applications and renewals. This could lead to delays in receiving social support.
- It may also lead to issues receiving customer service. Many people with disabilities rely on support provided by Social Security Administration employees to navigate these benefits. Without these employees, assistance may be very limited throughout the shutdown, and lead to delays that last well-after it’s over.
- Limited Access to Healthcare: Government shutdowns can affect the operations of federal healthcare agencies, such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This may result in delayed processing of Medicaid applications and approvals. This could potentially limit access to essential healthcare services, including medical care, therapies, and medications for people with disabilities.
- Disruption of Social Services: Federal programs that fund social services for individuals with disabilities, including vocational rehabilitation and independent living services, may experience disruptions. This can impact the availability of support for employment, education, and daily living skills. Programs that support independent living, including counselling, skills training, and advocacy services may have limited access for people with disabilities.
Other Services:
- Impact on Education: Shutdowns can affect the Department of Education’s ability to administer and fund programs that support students with disabilities. A shutdown could potentially affecting special education services and resources in schools. Many childcare centers are also struggling after the expiration of pandemic emergency relief funds. Families that have children with disabilities already face significant difficulties finding childcare options. These could worsen without appropriate Congressional action.
- Research and Innovation: Shutdowns can halt federally funded research initiatives, including those focused on disabilities and chronic illnesses. This can hinder progress in areas such as medical research, assistive technology development, and accessibility advancements.
- Access to Information: Government websites and hotlines that provide information and resources for individuals with disabilities may become less reliable or temporarily unavailable during a shutdown.
- Delayed Accessibility Improvements: Initiatives aimed at improving accessibility in public facilities and transportation systems, which are often federally funded, may also be delayed.
- Reduced Legal Protections: Shutdowns can impact the operations of federal agencies responsible for enforcing disability-related laws and regulations, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, potentially leading to reduced oversight and enforcement of disability rights. This could impact legal protections available to individuals with disabilities.
Conclusion:
It’s important to note that some essential services, such as Social Security payments, may continue during a government shutdown because they are considered mandatory spending and not subject to annual appropriations. However, many discretionary programs and services that support people with disabilities are vulnerable to interruptions.
A government shutdown also means that additional cuts to government funding are on the table in order to negotiate a deal, which could undermine critical services for people with disabilities.
The specific effects of a government shutdown can vary based on the agencies and programs impacted, and the consequences are often felt most acutely by vulnerable populations, including individuals with disabilities. Advocacy organizations and support networks often play a crucial role in helping individuals navigate these challenges during shutdowns. Hopefully, the shutdown will be resolved quickly.