Social Security benefits are mandated by law to continue being paid even in a government shutdown.

With less than 48 hours until a potential partial government shutdown, Congress and the White House continue to spar over whether to keep the government open or let health benefits expire for approximately 24 million Americans who receive coverage through the Affordable Care Act.

Congress has until the end of the day on Sept. 30 to avoid a partial shutdown, which will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1 if a last-minute agreement is not reached. In the event of a shutdown, many federal agencies and services are shut down or significantly restricted, impacting everyday people who rely on programs like Social Security.

Social Security does get funding from the government, but not in the same way as national parks or the military. Because of this, existing beneficiaries will feel the impact of the shutdown differently from Americans who don’t already receive Social Security payments.

Here’s what to know about Social Security payments during a government shutdown.

When could a government shutdown happen?

The current funding for the government expires at midnight on Sept. 30, with Oct. 1 being the potential start of a partial government shutdown.

Since 1981, there have been 14 partial government shutdowns, with most lasting only a day or two, according to Reuters. One of the most recent shutdowns was also one of the longest, lasting 35 days between December 2018 and January 2019, during Trump’s first term in office, due to a stalemate between the president and Congress over border security.

What happens during a government shutdown?

If Congress does not pass the budget legislation or if Trump does not sign it, federal government agencies and programs that rely on annual funding will be paused. During a government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal workers considered nonessential would be furloughed, meaning they would not work and would not get paid until funding is restored.

Essential workers in fields such as law enforcement and the military remain on the job without pay, and both groups are eventually reimbursed once the government is funded and reopens.

Do Social Security payments continue in a government shutdown?

Social Security benefits, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and benefits for retirement, disability and survivors, continue uninterrupted through government shutdowns.

Money for Social Security benefit programs is considered mandatory spending by law, meaning its budget is not dependent on yearly congressional approval, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Unlike discretionary spending, which requires congressional agreement on how money will be spent, mandatory programs must continue, meaning Social Security payments are distributed on a regular schedule.

If you rely on these benefits, you should continue to receive your check or direct deposit as usual, regardless of what happens on Oct. 1.

Other services provided by the SSA, however, such as processing new applications, can be impacted by shutdowns and the resulting lack of workers and movement in government systems.

What challenges do Social Security beneficiaries face in a government shutdown?

While existing payments continue without disruption, people newly in need of Social Security benefits or in the process of applying may face significant delays during government shutdowns.

People looking to apply for and access retirement, disability or survivor benefits for the first time are likely to face extended wait times. With fewer employees actively working to process applications, review qualifications and provide necessary documentation, those seeking to renew or start receiving benefits contend with a backlog in these processes.

This is especially true of anything that requires a manual review. Medical assessments for disability benefits, appeals or recertifications for denied or recurring payments and benefit calculations for families of recently deceased federal employees or veterans are all examples of processes that can be significantly delayed or paused altogether in a shutdown.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Do Social Security payments continue during a government shutdown? What to know

Reporting by Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect