Immigrants Getting Social Security: Donald Trump and Joe Biden had their first-ever head-to-head presidential debate on June 27 in Atlanta. Only two of the several topics covered in the debate that directly affected American voters were immigration and Social Security.
What was the claim?
Trump claimed that Biden’s high immigration rates were “destroying” Social Security during Thursday’s debate.
“Social Security, he’s destroying it because millions of people are pouring into our country, and they’re putting them onto Social Security,” stated the former president.
The likely Republican nominee did not clarify if he was speaking of legal or illegal immigrants residing in the United States.
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Are Immigrants Getting Social Security? The Details
An immigrant’s legal status determines whether they are qualified to receive Social Security payments.
On its website, the Social Security Administration wrote: “Lawfully present noncitizens of the United States who meet all eligibility requirements can qualify for Social Security benefits. This rule also applies to noncitizens authorized to work in the United States who got a Social Security number after December 2003.”
If they accrue enough labor credits throughout their employment, immigrants who are lawfully residing in the United States may be eligible to receive Social Security retirement benefits. Immigrants must obtain a Social Security number and pay Social Security taxes to be eligible for such credits.
While those who entered the nation illegally before being granted temporary permission to stay may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income payments if certain requirements are met, immigrants who are in the country unlawfully are not eligible for Social Security retirement benefits. Those with low or no income or resources, disabilities, blindness, or who are 65 years of age or older are eligible to receive SSI benefits.
If an immigrant fulfils the following requirements, they can be eligible for SSI:
- Lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
- Granted conditional entry.
- Paroled into the United States.
- Admitted as a refugee.
- Granted asylum.
- An alien whose removal is being withheld.
- A Cuban or Haitian entrant.
- Admitted as an Amerasian immigrant.
- Admitted as an Afghan or Iraqi special immigrant.
- Admitted as an Afghan humanitarian parolee.
- Admitted as an Afghan non-special immigrant parolee.
- Admitted as a Ukrainian humanitarian parolee.
“Most unauthorized immigrants are prohibited from receiving many of the benefits that the federal government provides through Social Security and such need-based programs as food stamps, Medicaid (other than emergency services), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,” the Congressional Budget Office stated in a 2007 paper regarding the effects of unauthorized migration on the Social Security system.
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The Decision
According to the SSA, immigrants who are lawfully residing in the United States are eligible to receive Social Security benefits as long as they fulfil certain requirements related to work credits and SSI eligibility levels.
As per Newsweek, while illegal immigrants may be eligible to receive SSI benefits in some situations, such as if they are awarded asylum, they are not eligible to receive the majority of other federal benefits.
