Fact check: How does the Biden administration's immigration policy affect Social Security benefits?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal that the Biden administration's immigration policy has a net positive effect on Social Security finances. Undocumented immigrants contribute significantly more to Social Security than they receive in benefits, paying nearly $100 billion in federal, state, and local income taxes, including $26 billion in Social Security taxes, in 2022 ^[1].

Immigration is expected to be the major driver of U.S. population growth by 2040 and could potentially narrow Social Security's financing shortfall, with higher levels of net immigration likely to provide greater benefits to the primary Old-Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund ^[2]. Research shows that immigrants realize a higher rate of return on payroll tax contributions than U.S. natives due to the Social Security formula, which transfers benefits toward those with low lifetime covered earnings ^[3].

Regarding benefit eligibility, noncitizens may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if they meet certain requirements, including being in a qualified alien category and meeting specific conditions, such as having 40 qualifying quarters of work or being an honorably discharged veteran ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial perspectives:

• Conservative viewpoint: The analyses reference President Trump's efforts to prevent illegal aliens from obtaining Social Security benefits ^[5], suggesting a contrasting policy approach that would restrict access rather than expand it.
• Fiscal impact beyond Social Security: The Biden-Harris administration has allocated tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to support illegal aliens through left-wing nonprofit organizations, expanding Alternatives to Detention (ATD) programs and providing taxpayer-funded services including legal orientation, social services referrals, mental health support, and assistance with returning to their home countries ^[6]. This represents additional costs beyond the Social Security system.
• Beneficiaries of different narratives:
• Left-wing nonprofit organizations benefit financially from expanded immigration services and funding ^[6]
• Social Security administrators and policymakers benefit from the narrative that immigration helps shore up the system's finances
• Anti-immigration advocates benefit from emphasizing the costs rather than contributions

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself appears neutral, but the framing could lead to biased interpretations:

• The question doesn't acknowledge the established fact that immigrants, including unauthorized ones, do not take advantage of entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security, and actually improve the fiscal health of these programs through their contributions ^[7].
• The question fails to distinguish between different types of benefits - Social Security retirement/disability benefits versus Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which have different eligibility requirements and funding sources.
• The framing could perpetuate the misconception that immigration is a drain on Social Security, when the evidence shows immigrants contribute more than they receive and help sustain the system financially.