Staff – April 16, 2024

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, former President Joe Biden addressed the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) conference in Chicago, warning that the Trump administration’s policies endanger Social Security. Biden accused Trump of undermining the program through staff cuts, website outages, and a memorandum targeting payments to “illegal aliens and other ineligible people.” His speech, part of a Democratic “Save Social Security Day of Action,” framed Trump as a threat to the 73 million Americans who rely on the program.

Critics, however, argue that Biden’s own policies—particularly those expanding Social Security eligibility for noncitizens—pose a far greater risk to the program’s solvency. With the Social Security trust fund projected to face insolvency by 2035, this article examines whether Biden’s immigration policies have strained the system more than Trump’s administrative changes, focusing on the number of noncitizens receiving benefits and the associated costs.

Biden’s Claims: Fear-Mongering or Legitimate Concern?

Biden’s speech highlighted operational issues at the Social Security Administration (SSA), including a planned layoff of 7,000 workers and cuts to its technology division, which he linked to website crashes and long wait times. He accused Republicans of using fraud allegations—such as payments to “300-year-old” recipients—as a pretext to slash benefits and fund tax cuts for the wealthy. Biden’s rhetoric, echoed by Democratic leaders like Chuck Schumer, painted Trump’s policies as a deliberate attack on a “sacred promise” to retirees, disabled individuals, and survivors.

Skeptics argue that Biden overstated the impact of these changes to score political points. Staff reductions and website issues, while inconvenient, don’t directly threaten benefit payments. Trump’s April 15, 2025, memorandum aims to curb improper payments, particularly to noncitizens, which some see as a necessary step to protect the program’s finances. Without concrete evidence that Trump’s policies will cut benefits for eligible recipients, Biden’s warnings risk inflating fear rather than addressing systemic issues.

The Counterclaim: Illegal Alien Benefits Under Biden

Critics contend that Biden’s immigration policies, particularly those granting work authorization to large numbers of noncitizens, have flooded Social Security with new beneficiaries, draining resources from American citizens. Posts on X claim that 2.1 million to 5.5 million “illegal aliens” received Social Security numbers (SSNs) and benefits in 2024 alone, with some alleging monthly disability payments as high as $4,100. These figures, often circulated without sources, appear inflated and lack verification from the SSA or other agencies.

Still, the underlying concern—noncitizens accessing Social Security—merits scrutiny. The SSA allows lawfully present noncitizens with work authorization, such as legal permanent residents, refugees, asylees, and DACA recipients, to qualify for benefits if they meet work credit requirements. Undocumented immigrants are generally ineligible unless they gain legal status. Biden’s policies, including expanded humanitarian parole programs and support for a pathway to citizenship, increased the number of noncitizens eligible for SSNs. For example, an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 DACA recipients could access benefits if they accrue enough work credits, though their contributions as taxpayers often offset costs.

The lack of transparent data fuels speculation. The SSA reported issuing about 1.2 million SSNs to noncitizens annually in 2020, a figure that likely grew under Biden due to higher border encounters and parole programs. If even a fraction of these individuals qualified for benefits, the costs could be significant. Critics argue that Biden’s failure to cap these programs or clarify eligibility risks long-term strain on Social Security, especially as the trust fund nears depletion.

How Many Noncitizens Received Benefits, and at What Cost?

Official data on noncitizen beneficiaries under Biden is frustratingly opaque. The SSA does not publicly break down benefit recipients by immigration status, and claims of millions of “illegal aliens” receiving payments remain unverified. A conservative estimate, based on historical SSN issuance trends, suggests 1–2 million noncitizens (mostly legal immigrants) may have received benefits annually during Biden’s term. With average monthly benefits of $1,900 for retirees and $1,500 for disabled workers, this could cost $18–45 billion per year—a sizable sum, though still a small fraction of the SSA’s $1.3 trillion annual budget.

These costs must be weighed against noncitizens’ contributions. Legal immigrants and DACA recipients pay Social Security taxes, often for years, before claiming benefits. The SSA’s Chief Actuary has noted that such workers bolster the trust fund’s finances in the short term. However, a potential citizenship pathway for millions of undocumented immigrants, as Biden advocated, could dramatically increase future beneficiaries, a risk critics say he downplayed.

Compare this to Biden’s signing of the Social Security Fairness Act in January 2025, which increased payments for 3 million public employees by $360–$1,190 monthly. This policy, costing tens of billions over a decade, is projected to hasten insolvency by six months—a clearer financial hit than speculative noncitizen costs. Yet the lack of clarity on noncitizen beneficiaries leaves room for distrust, which Biden’s administration did little to address.

Which Is the Bigger Threat?

Biden’s critics argue that his immigration policies, by expanding the pool of potential Social Security recipients, jeopardize the program’s future more than Trump’s operational tweaks. While Trump’s staff cuts and fraud crackdowns may cause delays or errors, they don’t directly reduce benefits for eligible recipients. In contrast, Biden’s failure to limit work authorizations or provide clear data on noncitizen beneficiaries fuels concerns about unchecked costs, especially if millions gain legal status in the future.

However, the biggest threat to Social Security remains its structural deficit. An aging population, declining birth rates, and stagnant payroll tax revenue drive the trust fund toward insolvency by 2035. Neither Biden’s immigration policies nor Trump’s administrative changes address this core issue. The Congressional Budget Office warns that sustaining current benefits requires major tax hikes or spending cuts, dwarfing the impact of either side’s policies.

Conclusion

Biden’s ACRD speech cast Trump as a villain threatening Social Security, but his warnings sidestepped his own administration’s role in expanding noncitizen eligibility. While claims of millions of “illegal aliens” draining the system are exaggerated, the lack of transparent data on noncitizen beneficiaries under Biden breeds suspicion. Trump’s fraud crackdowns and staff cuts may disrupt access, but their financial impact pales compared to the trust fund’s looming shortfall.

Social Security’s future hinges on addressing its demographic and fiscal challenges, not finger-pointing over noncitizens or fraud. Both Biden and his critics have leaned on hyperbole, leaving Americans with more questions than answers. Until the SSA provides clearer data on noncitizen benefits, the debate will remain mired in distrust—a disservice to the millions who depend on the program.