Republicans are holding the country hostage with threats to not raise the debt ceiling.
If the Democrats had any backbones, they would let the deadline pass without giving in to the ransom demands. Then just keep paying interest on the debt, funding the military, etc., but do not send out social security checks, send out IOUs with a note "please contact one of the following Congressmen (list of Congressmen who voted against raising the debt ceiling) and tell them you would like your social security money." If the Paul Ryan assault on Medicare is any guide, this problem will be fixed within a week.