The Impending Debt Ceiling Crisis and Its Impact on Social Security and Retirees.

If the US government defaults on its debts, Social Security recipients, particularly the oldest and poorest, will be the first to suffer. The earliest round of payments go to retirees older than 88 years, people with disabilities, and seniors with especially low incomes who are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Even a week-long holdup could be devastating for the roughly 27 million Americans who rely on Social Security for most of their income. The blow to Social Security, which accounts for 16% of the country's annual spending, is expected to be particularly debilitating.