Before we get too far removed from last month’s presidential debate, allow me to offer an opinion on a comment brought up by former President Donald Trump that was left unaddressed by President Joe Biden — namely, the effect of illegal immigrants on the Social Security system.
I spent almost 40 years (1971 to 2010) in public service, three of them as a caseworker and casework supervisor for the Missouri Division of Family Services, and 37 years working for the Social Security Administration (SSA) as service representative, claims representative and finally technical expert. I’m well-versed in this system.
The primary goal of the agency is to make sure that the proper person receives the correct amount of benefits and/or health insurance coverage that they are due, and that ineligible people do not. Since there are more than 20 different categories of benefits that must be considered when taking a claim for benefits, it is a complicated job with many convoluted rules.
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After dedicating much of my life to following that goal, the integrity of the agency is important to me. So to hear Trump allege in the debate that “they’re putting illegal aliens on Social Security” was the proverbial fingernails-on-the-chalkboard moment.
Uh, No.
Who exactly is the “they” in this particular lie? And how exactly is that being accomplished? Here are the basic facts:
SSA handles regular Social Security benefits to retirees, survivors, the disabled and their respective auxiliaries — children, spouses and occasionally dependent parents of deceased workers.
It also handles Medicare entitlement and Supplemental Security Income benefits, the latter of which is a needs-based (i.e., welfare) program.
To be eligible for Medicare or any type of Social Security benefit someone has to pay into the system and earn sufficient quarters to gain coverage. Currently, the majority of workers have to work 10 years to get the 40 quarters they need to be eligible.
The quarterly requirements and number of years needed for computing the benefits are different for young workers and the disabled. But in every event, money has to be paid into the system for benefits to be received. The amount a person receives for retirement benefits is generally based on a rolling average of their highest 35 years.
Conversely, Supplemental Security Income benefits (SSI) are not Social Security Benefits, so no individual payments are made into a system to cover them. They are designed to allow aged, blind or disabled people (including lawfully admitted aliens) to receive sufficient income to provide a life above the national poverty level.
Some people receiving regular Social Security benefits who are themselves aged, blind or disabled (but not their auxiliaries) may also receive these benefits if their Social Security benefits are very low. But, since this is a needs-based program, their living arrangements can affect their eligibility. Medicaid, which is handled by the states, is the same way; your living arrangements and income determine your eligibility and the amount you receive.
Illegal immigrants are not eligible for any of the benefits handled by SSA. Period.
The Social Security Act would have to be amended by Congress to change that. To think our Republican-controlled Congress would do anything to alleviate the suffering of citizens, much less illegal immigrants, is laughable.
So why would Trump mention anything at all about Social Security or Medicare in the debate, much less that it was being destroyed? It was simple fearmongering to garner votes.
Social Security has problems, to be sure, solvency being the main one. Additionally, the agency needs more workers who are given more time to learn all the complexities of the system before they are allowed to process every kind of claim without a review.
Resolving the solvency issue will require foresight and a Congress that is not completely brainwashed into thinking that it’s unfair to have the ultra-rich pay more into the system than they do. This year, the maximum earnings subject to Social Security taxes is capped at $168,600; anything above that isn’t taxed.
Since Trump’s focus revolves around keeping money in the pockets of the rich, upping the taxes for people earning over this sum is unfathomable.
I fully expected how the debate would unfold. I thought that President Biden, never a great orator, would bumble, stumble and fumble through the questions while Trump, ever the carnival hacker, would treat the debate as another stop on his campaign trail and would spew the same lies he repeats on the road. This he did.
Do not believe Trump’s assertion that illegal aliens are destroying the Social Security system or that they are being given benefits. It’s just a lie designed to garner your vote. Don’t be fooled.