Fact check: What are the requirements for undocumented immigrants to obtain a social security card through the 2024 policy?

1. What claimants said — the core assertions that need sorting out

The set of claims can be boiled down to three central assertions: first, that undocumented immigrants can obtain Social Security cards under a 2024 policy; second, that the Social Security Administration limits SSN issuance to those with DHS work authorization; and third, that recent Presidential memoranda in April 2025 directed agencies to block ineligible aliens from receiving Social Security Act benefits. The factual record in the documents provided supports the second and third assertions, citing SSA rules that require DHS work authorization and paperwork to verify identity, age, and immigration status, while the first assertion — a new 2024 policy granting SSNs to undocumented immigrants — finds no support in the sources ^{[1] [2] [3]}.

2. How the Social Security Administration frames eligibility — rules that matter in practice

The SSA’s position is clear and consistent in the materials: SSNs are issued to noncitizens only when DHS has authorized them to work in the United States and when they present required original or certified documents proving identity, age, and lawful immigration status; applicants can sometimes apply overseas before arrival or apply after lawful entry if they secure work authorization or permanent residency ^{[1] [2]}. This is an administrative eligibility standard tied to federal immigration adjudications, not a discretionary SSA policy that can be bypassed by state or local action. The requirement for multiple original documents and DHS confirmation is the operative barrier that distinguishes undocumented people from work-authorized noncitizens ^{[1] [2]}.

3. What the April 2025 memoranda changed — enforcement and verification, not broad eligibility

Two closely dated Presidential memoranda from April 2025 increased emphasis on preventing ineligible aliens from receiving Social Security Act benefits and expanded fraud prosecution resources; they directed agencies to strengthen eligibility verification, expand the fraud prosecutor program, and investigate anomalous earnings records (for example, mismatches associated with people age 100 or older) ^[3]. These actions are targeted at enforcement and fraud prevention rather than rewriting the SSA’s eligibility framework. The memoranda instruct agencies to use existing authorities to detect and prevent improper payments and to coordinate investigations, but they do not create a pathway for undocumented immigrants to obtain SSNs ^[3].

4. ITINs and the alternate reality — tax IDs are not Social Security numbers

For people who cannot obtain an SSN, the IRS issues Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) to facilitate tax filing; the ITIN program is explicitly not a substitute for Social Security coverage or benefits and does not confer work authorization or access to Social Security benefits. The materials reiterate that ITINs exist for tax processing and require proof of identity and foreign status, but they are separate from SSA records and benefits eligibility ^{[4] [5] [6]}. Many discussions conflate ITIN usage with SSN eligibility, but the documentation provided establishes a legal and operational distinction that matters for benefits and for SSA recordkeeping ^{[4] [6]}.

5. Competing narratives and motives — why the debate is politically charged

Commentary in the packet frames enforcement memoranda as either necessary anti-fraud measures or as political theater aimed at demonizing immigrants; one analysis calls the memorandum redundant because undocumented immigrants are already ineligible for Social Security benefits and because undocumented workers contribute payroll taxes without receiving benefits ^[7]. These contrasting interpretations reflect evident agendas: proponents of stricter enforcement point to fraud prevention and fiscal integrity, while critics argue the moves are performative and risk fostering mistrust without changing underlying eligibility rules. Both viewpoints rely on the same baseline facts about SSA eligibility and ITIN distinctions but diverge sharply on the policy’s necessity and likely impact ^{[7] [3]}.

6. Bottom line for applicants and policymakers — what actually matters going forward

The practical takeaway is straightforward: undocumented immigrants do not qualify for Social Security numbers under the SSA’s existing rule that requires DHS work authorization, and April 2025 memoranda increased enforcement but did not alter this eligibility standard. Individuals who cannot obtain an SSN should pursue ITINs for tax compliance, and anyone seeking clarity about a specific case should consult SSA guidance and DHS documentation because SSA issues SSNs only on the basis of immigration status verification by DHS ^{[1] [2] [4]}. Policymakers aiming for reform must address statutory immigration and benefit-eligibility law to change outcomes; administrative memoranda can tighten enforcement but cannot by themselves create new eligibility categories ^[3].