On Wednesday, October 1, at 12:01 AM, part of the federal government shut down because Congress could not  agree on a funding plan. As of now, the government has been shut down for two weeks. Congress and the White House are still working to reach a deal to reopen it.

What Happens During a Government Shutdown?

When the government shuts down, all “non-essential” government activities come to a halt. Essential workers — such as those in defense, national security, or air traffic control — keep working. Some get paid, and others are expected to work without pay. Most other federal employees are sent home and do not receive pay until Congress funds the government again, which is called a furlough.

Right now, around 750,000 federal workers are furloughed. If the shutdown goes on, many might miss their next paycheck and have trouble paying rent, mortgages, or other bills. Furloughed federal workers are required by law to receive pay that covers the time that they were furloughed, but the White House has illegally threatened that this may not happen for federal employees affected by this shutdown. 

Why Is Congress Stuck?

Congress cannot agree on how to fund the government. The President and many Republicans want to pass a short-term seven-week funding bill. However, Democrats prefer a longer-term deal that also:

• Extends enhanced health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which are scheduled to expire this year. These subsidies are called ACA Tax Credits. ACA Tax Credits lower the cost of health care for people who receive health insurance through their state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace.  
• Cancels Medicaid cuts that were passed earlier this year.
• Ensures the President cannot block funding that Congress already approved. Since January, the Trump administration has refused to disburse funding for many federal programs that were authorized by Congress without following the proper procedure under the Impoundment Control Act, which limits the President’s ability to cancel spending approved by Congress.

If those insurance subsidies expire, around 24 million Americans could face steep premium increases in 2026 — some by 100% or more.

The $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts included in the budget reconciliation bill passed this summer will cause millions of Americans to lose access to healthcare coverage, home- and community-based services, employment support services, and other vital benefits if those cuts are not repealed.

How the Shutdown Affects Government Programs

Medicaid and Medicare:

Medicaid and Medicare benefits will continue during the shutdown.

Medicare and Medicaid are funded separately from regular government operations, so those benefits will stay active even in a shutdown. 

However, some people might not be able to get help with tasks like Medicaid eligibility verification because of reduced staffing at federal agencies. Additionally, healthcare providers may experience delays in processing claims. It may be harder for people who depend on Medicare and/or Medicaid to access healthcare during the shutdown. About 43% of adults with disabilities under age 65 are covered by Medicaid. Medicaid covers over half of all long-term care in the United States. 

Medicare provides health insurance coverage for people 65 and older.  Approximately 45% of all Medicare beneficiaries report having a disability, while about 12% of beneficiaries are under age 65 and qualify for Medicare due to a disability, meaning there are a significant number of both older and younger individuals with disabilities who are covered by Medicare. 

Social Security and Disability Benefits:

Social Security payments will continue being paid as scheduled.

Social Security provides benefits for low-income children and adults with disabilities, retirees, older adults, and surviving spouses and children of deceased individuals through a variety of programs. 

This includes:

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
• Social Security Retirement and Survivor benefits

These benefits are funded separately from the government’s annual budget, so they are unaffected by the shutdown. However, some services — such as obtaining a replacement Medicare card or a benefit verification letter — may be delayed or interrupted due to staffing furloughs. If people have any problems with their Social Security benefits during the shutdown, it will take longer to fix those problems, potentially cutting people off from benefits they need to live. Check the Social Security Administration’s website for updates on which services are available.

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits:

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a program that helps low income people buy the food they need for good health. About 80% of households who receive SNAP benefits are households with children, a disabled person, or an older adult. People with disabilities are more likely to be food insecure than people without disabilities, which means that SNAP is an essential program to make sure many people with disabilities do not go hungry and still have healthy food to eat. 

The federal government sends states SNAP benefits every month, and then states send these benefits to low income individuals who are eligible for SNAP. The October SNAP benefits have already been distributed to states, so payments to individuals will be made on schedule. However, if the shutdown continues, November SNAP benefits might be delayed or interrupted, and people will go hungry, including people with disabilities and their families. 

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) benefits: 

WIC funding could run out within days because the program has not yet received new funding for the new fiscal year, which started on October 1. Some states may fill the gap with their own funds, but others cannot.

WIC benefits support pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding individuals, as well as their infants and children. If funds run out, families could lose access to food benefits, including formula for babies. Parents with disabilities and babies with disabilities are among those who will be hurt if WIC benefits run out. 

The White House has announced that it plans to use revenue from tariffs — taxes on goods imported from overseas — to fund WIC. However, the details of that plan are not yet clear. 

Food stores that need to renew their WIC or SNAP licenses may also have to wait until the shutdown ends.

If your SNAP or WIC benefits are delayed, you can visit Feeding America to locate a nearby food bank or food pantry. Additionally, many churches, community centers, or charity organizations in your local area may be able to assist if SNAP or WIC benefits are disrupted.

Housing Assistance

Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher benefits will continue. However, a long-lasting shutdown could delay lease renewals or jeopardize payments, causing landlords to cover the shortfall with their own funds. This may cause landlords to fall into foreclosure and cause housing instability for their tenants.

The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program helps eligible low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities afford housing in the private rental market by providing vouchers that subsidize a portion of their rent. About 25% of Section 8 beneficiaries are people with disabilities. People with disabilities face many barriers to housing, and Section 8 is an important program to help disabled people keep a roof over their head during the shutdown. 

If you receive a Section 8 housing voucher, you are still responsible for paying your share of rent during the shutdown, even if you are experiencing additional financial hardship due to the shutdown.

Other services, like housing inspections and new housing assistance applications, will be paused until the government reopens.

Energy Assistance

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is affected during the shutdown, but the impact on families varies by state. LIHEAP helps low-income households cover their energy bills, which includes many families with disabilities. During the shutdown, states will not receive new grants to assist families with electric or gas bills. Additionally, the entire staff of the Division of Energy Assistance at the Administration for Children and Families, which manages LIHEAP, had their jobs cut earlier this year.

Some states might have leftover funds to keep offering assistance. Contact your local or state social services department to learn about the current status of energy assistance programs in your state.

If your energy assistance benefits are interrupted, contact your electric, gas, or oil service provider, explain the situation, and inquire about available arrangements and assistance. Utility companies understand that shutdowns are heavily affecting consumers who depend on energy assistance programs.

What You Can Do

Call Your Bank and Other Creditors if You Need Help

If your benefits are delayed or disrupted and you need to use your own funds to buy groceries instead of paying utility, cell phone, or other bills, contact your bank or service provider and explain the situation. Financial institutions, including banks, credit card companies, and utility providers, are aware that a federal government shutdown can cause financial hardship for many people. They may be able to offer flexible arrangements, such as postponing payment due dates until the shutdown ends. While there's no guarantee they will do so, it's worthwhile to ask what they can do to support your financial security during this time. 

Contact Your Representatives and Senators

AAPD urges people with disabilities and their allies to contact their Senators and Representatives and implore them to:

• Fund and reopen the government,
• Protect access to healthcare, and;
• Prevent further harm to people who rely on federal benefits.

The longer the shutdown continues, the harder it will be for families, especially those with disabilities or low incomes, to make ends meet. Additionally, if federal workers miss paychecks, it can have a significant impact on the broader economy.

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the over 70 million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation. To learn more, visit the AAPD website: www.aapd.com.

Independent Living is more than a type of service — it’s a philosophy, a movement, and a declaration of rights. At its heart, Independent Living means that people with disabilities have the same right as anyone else to make choices about their lives, to live in their communities, and to access the support they need without giving up control or autonomy.

The Independent Living Philosophy emerged during the disability rights movement of the 1960s and 70s, driven by people with disabilities who were tired of being told what they could or couldn’t do. They challenged institutions and systems that treated them as passive recipients of care. Instead, they pushed for a new way forward: one that prioritized freedom, dignity, and self-determination.

Independent Living Centers, or ILCs, embody that philosophy. These community-based organizations are run by and for people with disabilities, ensuring that lived experience informs every part of the work. But unlike traditional models that “do for,” Independent Living is about building the skills and confidence to do it yourself.

That could mean learning how to budget, prepare meals, ride the bus, manage personal care assistants, use adaptive technology, or navigate complex systems like health care, housing, or employment. It’s about breaking down barriers — both physical and systemic — while building people up to make their own decisions and direct their own lives.

When we talk about independence, we don’t mean doing everything alone. We mean having the tools, the choices, and the support that allow people to live life on their own terms. That’s what the Independent Living Philosophy is all about: empowerment, access, and the belief that everyone deserves the chance to participate fully in their community.

What Is a Center for Independent Living (CIL)?

Centers for Independent Living (CILs) are community-based, nonprofit organizations that put the Independent Living Philosophy into action. They are not residential facilities or group homes — no one lives at a CIL. Instead, they serve as resource hubs, advocacy centers, and empowerment spaces for people with disabilities.

CILs are federally authorized and funded under Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act to provide what are known as the five core services:

1. Information and Referral
2. Independent Living Skills Training
3. Peer Support
4. Individual and Systems Advocacy
5. Transition Services — including helping youth with disabilities move into adult life, and supporting people in transitioning out of institutions and into the community

These services are provided at no cost to the consumer and are designed to remove barriers, promote independence, and protect the rights of people with disabilities.

One of the most important features of a CIL is that it must be consumer-controlled, meaning that the majority of its staff and board members are people with disabilities themselves. This ensures that lived experience drives decision-making and that the services truly reflect the needs and values of the disability community.

CILs empower people with disabilities to build the lives they want — not by doing things for them, but by standing alongside them as they gain the tools, skills, and confidence to do it themselves.

More Than Services: A Community Model

A common misconception is that independence means doing everything alone. In the Independent Living model, it means being the decision-maker in your life — whether that includes hiring personal assistants, receiving public benefits, using assistive technology, or leaning on a chosen support network. It is a form of interdependence, not isolation.

Independent Living affirms that people with disabilities are the best experts in their own lives. It challenges outdated assumptions and builds pathways to full inclusion — at home, at work, in schools, and in civic life.

Why It Matters

Independent Living is not just a philosophy — it is a policy priority. Funding decisions at the local, state, and federal levels impact whether CILs can continue to meet the needs of their communities. As the population ages and more people acquire disabilities over time, access to independent living services will only grow in importance.

When we support Independent Living, we are investing in a more inclusive society — one where everyone, regardless of ability, has the right to choose where they live, how they spend their time, and what goals they pursue.

You can support this work by learning more about your local Center for Independent Living and the services they offer. Get involved, share their message, and advocate for funding and policies that protect the rights of people with disabilities. For national advocacy and updates, visit the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) — a leading voice in advancing disability rights and the Independent Living movement across the United States.

Together, we can ensure that independence is not a privilege, but a right that belongs to everyone.

As some of you may know, SIL will be relocating in March to 1905 West Ash Street, just across the street from the Shelter Gardens and next door to the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA).  The office at 1401 Hathman Place will be closed the week of March 25^th (Monday through Friday) for the move. Our transportation services will continue to run that week and our phone lines will be open Monday to Wednesday, but we will be closed for walk-ins and office appointments that week.  SIL will reopen and be fully operational at the new location on Monday April 1^st, 2024.

The new location is a larger building at 11,500 square feet compared to the 7,200 square feet in our current building. The building is currently undergoing significant upgrades by the landlord that include resurfaced/stripped parking lots, replacing the entire heating/cooling system with a much more efficient system, adding two unisex accessible restrooms, and fresh paint throughout the building. The new location will feature:

• A 1,000-square-foot space for SIL’s Assistive Technology Exchange Program (ATEP) for storage, restoration, and distribution of durable medical equipment (DME). The space has 4 garage bay doors (2 in front and 2 in back) for easy access and SIL will have a curbside service for DME donations and pickups.
• A 300-square-foot dedicated assistive technology center for consumer demonstrations and training.
• An adjacent 400-square-foot accessible kitchen for staff that can accommodate consumer training with adaptive equipment and personalized cooking classes (with an adjacent accessible restroom).
• A 900-square-foot meeting room that features a large drop-down screen and projector system and will be set up for integrated video conferencing.
• A dedicated smaller conference room adjacent to the lobby will be used for Consumer/Case Manager meetings and intakes.
• Dedicated supply storage rooms will increase the capacity for donated supplies.
• Improved office spaces for staff.
• Parking in the rear of the building to accommodate staff and fleet vehicles and parking in the front available to visitors and consumers (our current location does not accommodate our parking needs).

This new location will help enable SIL to expand programs and services which are already in the exploratory and developmental stages. We will be hosting a series of open houses beginning in April, we hope to see you there. More to come on all of this with future newsletters and through our website and social media. The SIL team is energized about the move and SIL’s future, as we hope all of you will be.