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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Sally
What happens in the case of one who’s been in this country for over 20 years working and is about to receive there SS?
Doctor P.
Ms Sally, as stated above this reply and verbatim, “ Reinforcing program integrity measures so that only noncitizens who meet all eligibility requirements can receive benefits”.
I hope my answer provides some solitude for your worries. Blessings To You And Yours! Doctor Petersonlee
Rebecca
It’s important to note that the US has agreements with dozens of countries in which legal aliens work and live in the US. The people are legally in the US, have legal SSN and pay taxes. For example, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of Canadian nurses and doctors who work in the US legally and have an SSN. These are the same health care workers who fought to save American lives during the pandemic. Many of these health care providers have worked for decades legally in the US under the provision of agreements that state legal persons performing such jobs are entitled to receive SS benefits when they obtain the required eligibility requirements. These people, although not US citizens, are legally working in the US, contribute immensely to their communities, pay taxes, and their SS benefits need to be protected.
Doug U.
Nothing happens. Simply living in the USA for any length of time — one year or fifty — is irrelevant. No one on SSA’s side will ask or care. Living in the USA for any length of time doesn’t turn someone into a citizen or permanent legal resident.
Sally H.
Undocumented workers contribute to Social Security but never receive it. This is despicable. So, why is Social Security sending out false information? MAGA Musk and DOGE are trying to destroy Social Security. Why?
DjH
Fake problem. Illegals might pay in to Social Security if they use a fake social security number, but they don’t get benefits. That is, they just donate money to SSA. Aliens who have a LEGAL SSN pay in and deserve their benefits just like citizens with a legal SSN. And SSA has, for many years, been monitoring individuals who are over 100 years old. There are some, but nothing like the ridiculously aged that DOGE thought they identified. DOGE just didn’t understand the SSA computer system. It’s an old computer system because SSA’s budget does not seem to cover updating it.
Mike H.
If an illegal is otherwise entitled to benefits they are put in suspense status while in the U.S.. There is no stature of limitation in correcting the wage record once a person reaches retirement age. This is the exception to the 3 year, 3 month & 15 day rule for correcting wage records.
Doug U.
An illegal person cannot legally obtain an SSN. Working under a fictitious or SSN belonging to someone else would cause those earnings to be placed in the suspense file. The suspense file is only associated with the employer EIN. As an employee of SSA I visited the suspense file often. Earnings wind up there when there is a mismatch of name and/or SSN. Employers were asked multiple times to supply the correct SSN/name. A digit could have been reversed or a former maiden name not updated to the married name. These can be legitimately corrected. And at the time of application if a gap in earnings is noted, the SSA employee can attach the earnings to the correct record. But if that person is illegally here, they will remain the suspense file forever. Correction of the earnings record has nothing to do with the statute of limitations.
Simon A.
If one was born outside the USA and has social security card, are his children eligible to obtain citizenship or move with him in the USA? Someone to help
Anita L.
My comment is actually a question. Why is he not helping low income seniors? I get 963 a month.. between rent and yes I still have to buy food even though I am eligible for food stamps.. cuz it’s not enough the way these prices went up I can’t eat healthy.. and being pre-diabetic does not help..
Patricia V.
Go shop at a store that is a non-union to buy food and beverages. Their help is minimum wage. You may be eligible for SNAP benefits, the food stamps.
Patricia V.
Sorry; you get food stamps; and very a family operated store that is non-union.
Patricia V.
Write to your Rep. to get quicker action since that is who we vote for. It can get lobbied to both Chambers of the White House for voting, hopefully signed into law by the Pres.
Kevin
I’m all for social security benefits and programs being for US citizens and foreigners who have legally paid into the system and have a legit claim to benefits.
Patricia V.
‘Cause, we worked hard to earn our legal SSA pensions. It’s not our fault we cannot work anymore. DOGE has their problems that is Not Ours, so Hands Off Social Security!
Candido I.
Leland Dudek. “We are committed to working diligently to implement the President’s memorandum and ensure that benefits are paid only to those who should receive them.” My name is Candido Israel Rigo Gutierrez. I am 72 years old and a U.S. citizen. I have Medicare and Medicaid, but my Medicaid isn’t comprehensive. I have several chronic illnesses and need full Medicaid. I hope you can help me.
Reb
This statement is from Social Security Administration:
“Reinforcing program integrity measures so that only noncitizens who meet all eligibility requirements can receive benefits.”
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.
So where’s the truth? This is coming from the SSA at the beginning of their response to President Trumps Memorandum:
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.
Theresa M.
My question for you … So the one’s that work and pay their taxes are able to receive it! The ones whom do not …. Are not receiving SS .
Anita L.
You are correct! And they also stopped payments to dead people… Which we know is just one big scam by somebody in the federal government… But if you’re legally eligible it will always be there for you well until it runs out..
Patricia V.
We had paid into payroll taxes to support those who had received Social Security’s benefits pension. The current benefit recipients count on the actively employed taxpayers who are employed and paying into the Social Security systems through their payroll taxes.
.
Back then in the years following 1935, 3+ employees supported the SSA recipients who’s life expectancy was about age 65. Today, only about 2.2 employees support those collecting benefits with people living longer past age 65, such as in their 80s to 100s and the US population has fewer birth rates, causing a drain on the US Treasury system.
US Treasury Funds are projected to run out by the year 2033 or 34, forcing monthly cuts in benefits for future and current retirees to around 75%. With many folks then facing severe poverty, the USA may experience very serious widespread Recession and market corrections. The best anyone can do before time runs out is to write to your Rep. ASAP before time runs out.
Chris w.
How do I opt out of sending f’elon and the felon my future SS ponzi scheme payments since they are currently stealing them?
James P.
Yes tell me about it
Sunil K.
The US Govt. Has not stolen from its citizens even & will not start now.
Elon M.
Send your request to:
DOGE
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20500
Attn: The Big Twit
hool
The Trump-Musk Administration’s actions to erase taxpayers’ Social Security records are deeply unjust and morally indefensible. It’s certainly not something Jesus would condone — especially when it affects lawful green card holders and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) residents who have no criminal background. Many of these individuals had their legal status suddenly revoked without due process, despite having lived in the U.S. for years with citizen spouses and children. Forcibly detaining them, often in distant or foreign facilities, is a violation of both legal norms and human decency. Those who support and carry out these unjust imprisonments without fair hearings will have a lot to answer for when they face judgment at the Pearly Gates.
JT
They should have come to the country legally using the existing immigration process. Only those who paid into social security should be allowed to apply for it period. Maybe you could share your 401k with them if your truly worried about it.
Greg
JT, Hool was mentioning “lawful green card holders and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) residents.” Perhaps you missed the word “lawful” or fail to understand that lawful infers that the individual entered the country legally.
Hope P.
GREAT answer, Sir.
I worked hard for many, many years.
If you are here legally, became a U.S. citizen of our beautiful country. FINE.
ILLEGALS, NEVERRRR.
RickB.
I’m not sure where you think it’s okay for people that are here illegally should be allowed to stay, let alone be allowed to have Social Security cards. Allowing illegal immigrants to enter and stay in this country destroys this country’s sovereignty. If you think that this situation is acceptable, please leave your doors unlock so anyone and everyone can stay in your home indefinitely.
ROBERT D.
Rick:
The Ugly Truth is that many of the people who pick our Fruits and Veggies and who work in our Meatpacking Plants, are ILLEGALS.
If we kicked out all the Illegals, then the price of our food would go up, due to:
(A) reduced supply, since less would be harvested or processed, as there would be less Food Workers and no legal people to take the jobs.
OR
(B) Increased Labor Cost, as legal Americans take those jobs, but at much higher pay!
The logical thing would be to bring in people who are
willing to DO the Jobs that Americans do NOT!
But “logic” seems to be in short supply in “2025 America”.
Anita L.
Taking it from people who don’t deserve it.. the people were stealing it because they didn’t earn it! People were collecting off of cases that were never closed, people that died. Why don’t you guys pay attention when the president’s on and you’ll know what’s happening.. hey if you don’t want to watching Google it!! They arrested One Man by accident.. what time people just don’t pay attention. Not telling you to listen to the news either.. freaking Google it or watch Trump when he’s on.
Greg C.
Anita,
Forget judgment day, I want the current Admim. (DODGE), judged today, and removed and fined in order to repay the people that have been abused by the abused power of the DODGE.
But, I now fear this very comment could cause me to be abused and inspite of being White/Male, US citizen! Because injustice for one, is injustice for all.
Tony
First, it was the NAZIs collecting Social Security. Then seniors over 150 years old were collecting Social Security. Now it is illegal immigrants collecting Social Security. Who is next to illegally collect Social Security? Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.
James P.
Stop this now*
Patrica V.
Yes, stop toxic activity as we are no longer interested. Write to your Congressman instead!!