Social Security Statement on President Trump’s Memorandum, “Preventing Illegal Aliens from Obtaining Social Security Act Benefits”
The Social Security Administration (SSA) today 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 and Apply for Social Security Benefits.