Social Security Statement on President Trump’s Memorandum, “Preventing Illegal Aliens from Obtaining Social Security Act Benefits”
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: April 18, 2025
The Social Security Administration (SSA) yesterday expressed its full support for President Trump’s memorandum, “Preventing Illegal Aliens from Receiving Social Security Act Benefits.” This memorandum reinforces SSA’s commitment to safeguarding taxpayer dollars and ensuring the integrity of the programs it administers.
“The Social Security Administration is dedicated to protecting the vital benefits that American workers have earned on behalf of themselves and their families,” said Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek. “We are committed to working diligently to implement the President’s memorandum and to ensure that benefits are paid only to those who should receive them.”
The President’s memorandum directs SSA to take several key actions aimed at stopping illegal aliens and other ineligible people from obtaining benefits under the Social Security Act. They include:
- Expanding SSA’s fraud prosecutor programs;
- Investigating earnings reports of people 100 years old or older with mismatched records;
- Considering reinstatement of SSA’s civil monetary penalty program; and
- Reinforcing program integrity measures so that only noncitizens who meet all eligibility requirements can receive benefits.
SSA administers three essential programs under the Social Security Act that support the financial well-being of over 70 million individuals. The Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) program, established in 1935, provides retirement and survivors benefits, paying over $1.3 trillion in fiscal year (FY) 2024 to approximately 59 million beneficiaries monthly. The Disability Insurance (DI) program, established in 1956, offers benefits to disabled workers and their families, issuing about $157 billion in FY 2024 to over 8 million beneficiaries each month. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, created in 1972, supports aged, blind, and disabled individuals with limited income, issuing around $56 billion in payments to 7.4 million recipients monthly, with some also receiving OASI or DI benefits. Additionally, the agency supports various national programs administered by other federal and state agencies including Medicare and Medicaid, among others.
For more information on SSA programs, including who is eligible and how to apply, visit Benefit types | SSA and Apply for Social Security Benefits | SSA.
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C. C.
As a matter of fact I personally know of a few illegal aliens who are receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration. Having been born in the United States and being a natural citizen and have paid into and still am paying into the social security for the last 63 years I take offense at people who are getting benefits that do not deserve them. This is not limited to illegal aliens it also includes those people who are too lazy to work and know how to work the system.
Mrs
Agree..my friend, a naturalized US citizen , born in Mexico,said she knows of some illegal getting SS. It is unfair to people like her who came here Legally and followed the rules. She is not very happy about them breaking the law or cutting in line.
Charles R.
If you personally know illegal aliens who are collecting SS benefits why don’t you report them to SS?
Rebecca W.
In the memorandum it also states from the Social Security Administration-
“Reinforcing program integrity measures so that only noncitizens who meet all eligibility requirements can receive benefits.”
Word playing here with Non-Citizens a Non-Citizen is A non-citizen is someone who is not a member of a state nor owes allegiance to the state he or she currently resides. In the United States, a non-citizen national is a person on whom U.S. nationality, but not U.S. citizenship, has been conferred at birth under 8 U.S.C. 1408, or under other law or treaty, and who has not subsequently lost such non-citizen nationality. A non-citizen national can also be a person born in an outlying possession of the U.S. or a person whose parents are U.S. non-citizen nationals
Linda S.
Why am I having Social Security deducted from my paycheck when I am of retirement age and collecting Social Security? I am paying for somebody else to benefit and this is not right! The deduction for SS and Medicare for people of retirement age should not have to contribute any more let alone the employers. This really needs to be reviewed.
Jill Z.
Every company and federal office should audit its practices. Makes sense. Look at what happened in 2008 with the banking industry. That being said, I still have not seen any facts that substantiate actual problems today, other than one person wants it to be his way playing with tin soldiers.
I would like to still believe that Americans believe in a constitution that has allowed us to live without fear and not be afraid of the “other” who at this point are probably terrified. Shame on this presidency. Have respect for us. We do see what is going on.
Meline S.
It raises your social security benefits and always has.
Kim P.
To anyone here who thinks that there is no fraud with Social Security numbers. PLEASE go work in the private sector and get in the trenches. It is rampant- on both the states and federal levels. Please stop with the “I hate anything that is Trump or Musk” and try to realize that this administration is trying to preserve SS and Medicare from the way it has been used as a money tree for decades. Drop the partisan BS and use your God given brain.
Mark E.
Well spoken, rightly worded to the point. Of ur comments,facts really in the ‘Social Securities Matters’ post by SSA. I’m 69 yrs old and have witnessed many not really qualified apply and get some type of benefit(s), funded by SSA. But how do they buy a house? They do not receive enough money.
Kimberly A.
Amen!!! Well said! Thank you!
Laurence W.
The objectors are correct. It would be more appropriate, and more effective, to exclude all non-citizens from participation in Social Security programs beyond paying taxes.
Meline S.
Really?
PJS
Unless there are illegal aliens fraudulently receiving benefits this is a solution without a problem. What is not being discussed is the payroll taxes being paid by undocumented workers who won’t receive any benefits.
Meline
This is true and always has been. .
John S.
The Trump-Musk Administration effort to erase Social Security records of Tax-Paying legal green card holders and leagal TPS residents who are NOT criminals, whose status was suddenly changed by Trump without notice and without a hearing after years living in this country with their US Citizen Spouses and children, and whisked to prisons out-of-state and out-of this country, is despicable and not what Jesus will do. Those supporting and enforcing these illegal jailings without due process will be in deep Poop when they get to the Pearly Gates!
Rose
This should be reported to the department of imaginary concerns.
Connie
The wealthiest receivers of SS money are not taxed enough! Receivers with an income of $1,600,000 are taxed the same as someone making $160,000!!! Same with Medicare Part B payments!!
The wealthiest need to pay their fair share.
Those two changes would fund SS for many years to come, for all, and bring tax relief to the lower income receivers. AMERICAN GREED!
Mrs
If they make high income, they have to pay an IRMA amount for Pt B. Taxes on the soc sec are depending on income
Patricia v.
Also, those of very high incomes should receive SS benefits just on a need- based eligibility to make it fair for all to balance the federal government systems.
Meline
Making big income taxes SS more and makes a wealthy person pay more for Medicare. That seems fair enough to me.
Joshua S.
I’m happy to see everyone in the comment section is on the same page while the head of SSA is trying to get us to believe their alternate reality to avoid dealing with the ACTUAL PROBLEMS AMERICANS ARE DEALING WITH 😭
FML “illegal aliens” pay INTO social security but can’t benefit, so by removing these people… they’re just cutting more funding, no? 🫠
Hope L.
I have worked my butt off for 53 years and deserve every dollar of social security that I have earned so please do NOT take it benefits away!!!