Pay & Benefits

SSA tells employees to keep mum on debt ceiling questions

Will you still receive a social security check if the government doesn\'t raise the debt ceiling? You won\'t be getting an answer from the Social Security Admin...

Federal News Network Staff

July 15, 2011 3:59 pm

< a min read

By Jolie Lee
Federal News Radio

Will you still receive a social security check if the government doesn’t raise the debt ceiling?

You won’t be getting an answer from the Social Security Administration.

The agency sent out this memo to employees on Thursday:

If an individual inquires about payment of Social Security or SSI checks due to concerns about the federal debt ceiling, provide the following response:

“We’re sorry but we don’t know.”

The memo was posted on the Social Security Emergency Message website.

The subject line of the memo: “Instructions for Handling Inquiries on Payment of Social Security Benefits and Supplemental Security Income Checks if the United States Debt Ceiling Limit is Not Raised.”

Federal News Radio has requested comment from SSA.