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In spite of the shutdown, tenants in federally subsidized housing programs like Sections 8 will continue to receive those benefits, at least through October, according to legal experts.
The federal government shut down Wednesday morning following a stalemate between Republican and Democratic lawmakers over healthcare spending—the first such impasse since 2018.
Democratic Congress members say they won’t pass a new spending bill unless Republicans and the Trump administration agree to reverse earlier cuts to Medicaid, and extend subsidies that help people pay for health services under the Affordable Care Act.
On a practical level, the shutdown could mean missed paychecks for the more than 100,000 federal workers across New York State, who are either furloughed or at risk of being furloughed during the shutdown, Gov. Kathy Hochul said at a press briefing Wednesday.
“Think about that—public servants dedicated their lives to this country, and now they’re being told, no paycheck, no certainty, go figure it out on your own,” the governor said. “That’s the real human toll of this shutdown.”
New Yorkers who rely on federally funded assistance programs, including housing vouchers, however, should see those benefits continue in spite of the shutdown—at least for now, experts say.
“We want to make clear: despite the federal shutdown, New Yorkers will still receive their benefits, and applications for new benefits are still being accepted,” said Adriene Holder, chief attorney of the civil practice at The Legal Aid Society.
The nonprofit published a chart (below) of various subsidies and where they stand for the month of October. New Yorkers receiving Cash Assistance, SNAP, Medicaid and Social Security payments should see no immediate interruptions to those services, the group said.
Information on Benefits and Public Assistance for October 2025
(Chart by The Legal Aid Society)
| Benefit | What you need to know |
| Cash Assistance | Your benefits will continue as usual. |
| SNAP (Food Stamps) | October SNAP benefits are safe. |
| Medicaid | Your Medicaid coverage will continue. |
| SSI / Social Security | Payments will continue as usual. |
| FHEPS, CityFHEPS | These housing subsidies are safe. |
| Federal Housing (Section 8, Public Housing, 202’s) | Rent subsidies are still being paid. |
The same goes for tenants who get rental assistance through U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, such as Section 8.
“Most tenants who live in HUD and USDA housing should not experience a disruption in their housing because of the shutdown,” the National Housing Law Project explained on its website. “Continue to pay your portion of the rent.”
The group warns, however, that the situation could change depending on how long the shutdown lasts, and could eventually lead to public benefits delays.
“If the shutdown lasts past November, your rights might change and you should contact an attorney for updated information,” according to NHLP, which advises tenants who run into issues to seek legal help via LawHelp.org and the Legal Services Corporation.
A more detailed breakdown of how specific housing programs could be impacted by the shutdown can be found on NHLP’s website here.
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