Social Security Statement on President Trump’s Memorandum, “Preventing Illegal Aliens from Obtaining Social Security Act Benefits”
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: April 17, 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.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: General Information, social security, Social Security benefits
See CommentsAbout the Author
Social Security Administration
Social Security Administration
Comments
Leave a Comment
Please review our Comment Policy before leaving a comment. For your safety, please do not post Personally Identifiable Information (such as your Social Security Number, address, phone number, email address, bank account number, or birthdate) on our blog.
Sharon R.
This is an outrage! This is not a problem and it’s offensive that you are trying to trick older Americans into thinking that it is. And in the process of “fixing” this so-called problem, you have created chaos in a decades old agency that many people rely on as their only or main source of income. This adminstration will long be remembered for the damage done to our country and our institutions.
Stephen D.
I would be nice if SSA took this stance no matter who was the POTUS. Better yet, the only people who should get SS benefits are the ones who contributed to the fund through payroll deductions.
Jean S.
Stop firing workers and closing offices. There are better methods to saving money than slash and burn.
Do your job, protect Social Security.
Sue L.
What a waste of taxpayer money! Illegal and legal immigrants often pay into this system and are not able to receive any benefits.
Michael O.
Will the results be shown when the investigation is done? I’d like to see the results posted here, by the social security administration, not the chainsaw wielding (f) Elon muskrat on fox news.
Rowland L.
So the President wants Social Security to continue to do what it already does and not provide Social Security benefits to those not eligible for them. I am so pleased that The Social Security Administration will continue doing the excellent job they now do. I’m not sure why you needed to tell us about this as if you were planning to do something different. It sounds like the SSA is hinting that the unwarranted accusations by the President and Elon Musk were true but now that you are aware of these problems you are fixing them and will do better….
Donald L.
It sounds like some people think that illegal aliens do not get any benefits. What about housing, food, medical attention, do you think that is free? And yes even legal aliens do get benefits after working here for 10 or 15 years, then go back home and receive retirement benefits and medicare. So why do we send benefits to other countries.
VM
I’m elated with the decision and is long overdue due.
Johnny U.
Social Security Mattets, was a great source of legitimate updates for us taxpayers who contributed all our working lives. It’s now lost It’s legitimacy! Illegal aliens are NOT eligible for benefits. There are NO millions of Americans over the age of 150 collecting benefits. Lies are now rampant on this once credible sources. Close it down for now. Thank you…
Wife o.
If a naturalized US citizen has faxed a copy of his US passport and French birth certificate to SSA when he got Medicare, diring 2020 when ssa was locked down, does he also have to fax the same documents again to get retirement now that he applied for that? . He has worked for decades and will be 70. . SSA hasn’t emailed or written or called to ask for those again but if you need them, please ask . Please Make sure they email or call or write if they want these documents presented again a second time. Please don’t cancel my husband without notice.