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Social Security

Scorecard

true
0% 23 Checks
mostly true
0% 29 Checks
half true
0% 48 Checks
mostly false
0% 77 Checks
false
0% 59 Checks
Pants on Fire
0% 17 Checks
For more details, see the Principles of PolitiFact

All Fact-checks for Social Security

Donald Trump
Donald Trump
stated on June 29, 2025 an interview on Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures':
The One Big Beautiful Bill will deliver the promise of “no tax on Social Security.”
Mostly False
By Louis Jacobson, Loreben Tuquero • June 30, 2025
American Action Network
American Action Network
stated on June 4, 2025 an ad:
The Republican tax and spending bill will provide a “tax cut for Social Security recipients.”
Half-True
By Loreben Tuquero • June 24, 2025
TikTok posts
TikTok posts
stated on April 5, 2025 a TikTok post:
U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett says “she ‘simply forgot' to inform Social Security that her grandmother died in 2012 … She’s been collecting $2,600 a month for 13 years.”
Pants on Fire!
By Maria Briceño • April 14, 2025
Elon Musk
Elon Musk
stated on February 28, 2025 an interview with podcaster Joe Rogan:
“Social Security is the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.”
False
By Louis Jacobson • March 19, 2025
Facebook posts
Facebook posts
stated on February 22, 2025 Facebook posts:
“DOGE discovers Louisiana man with 34 different names, addresses, and Social Security numbers. He was collecting $1,168,646 in (Social Security) per year.”
False
By Loreben Tuquero • February 28, 2025
Instagram posts
Instagram posts
stated on December 5, 2024 an Instagram post:
“After meeting with Elon Musk, Republican leader Sen. John Thune announces plans to cut Social Security.”
False
By Madison Czopek • December 13, 2024
WinSenate
WinSenate
stated on October 24, 2024 a Facebook ad:
“Kari Lake is threatening Social Security and Medicare.”
Half-True
By Mia Osmonbekov • November 4, 2024
United Auto Workers
United Auto Workers
stated on October 23, 2024 a Meta ad:
Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers “wants to cut Medicare and Social Security.”
False
By Caleb McCullough • October 24, 2024
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
stated on October 17, 2024 an ad:
Vice President Kamala Harris “wants struggling seniors to pay more Social Security taxes while she gives Medicare and Social Security to illegals.”
False
By Louis Jacobson • October 23, 2024
Bob Casey
Bob Casey
stated on October 10, 2024 a TV ad:
To pay for extending the Trump tax cuts, Dave McCormick has “made clear he’ll slash your Medicare and Social Security, and cut Medicaid for nursing home care.”
False
By Caleb McCullough • October 22, 2024
Tammy Baldwin
Tammy Baldwin
stated on October 7, 2024 Campaign ad:
Says opponent Eric Hovde “just proposed cutting Social Security by 28%.”
Mostly False
By Madeline Heim • October 21, 2024
Eric Hovde
Eric Hovde
stated on September 5, 2024 Campaign ad:
Says Democratic opponent Tammy Baldwin "gave stimulus checks to illegals."
False
By D.L. Davis • October 11, 2024
Instagram posts
Instagram posts
stated on September 24, 2024 an Instagram reel:
"Missouri registered 78,421 in just one week of February of this year. Out of that number, 23,253 were dead people!"
False
By Andy Nguyen • October 4, 2024
Ruben Gallego
Ruben Gallego
stated on August 17, 2024 a post on X:
“MAGA Republicans like Kari Lake support Project 2025, which would raise the retirement age for 73% of Arizonans.”
Mostly False
By Mia Osmonbekov • September 26, 2024
Tim Sheehy
Tim Sheehy
stated on September 10, 2024 an op-ed:
Jon Tester “supported slashing Social Security benefits”
False
By Louis Jacobson • September 25, 2024
Jacky Rosen
Jacky Rosen
stated on August 13, 2024 an ad:
“Sam Brown publicly supported forcing massive cuts to Social Security and Medicare and was caught on tape saying he admires the plan to phase out Social Security and Medicare in five years.”
Mostly False
By Seth A. Richardson • September 24, 2024
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
stated on August 28, 2024 an ad:
“Kamala Harris has promised amnesty for the 10 million illegals she allowed in as border czar, making them eligible for Social Security. Studies warn this will lead to cuts in your Social Security benefits."
False
By Maria Ramirez Uribe • September 18, 2024
Kari Lake
Kari Lake
stated on August 8, 2024 on social media platform X:
Ruben Gallego wants to “cut your Social Security.”
False
By Sabine Martin • August 29, 2024
Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris
stated on July 30, 2024 an event in Atlanta:
"Donald Trump intends to cut Social Security."
Mostly False
By Louis Jacobson • July 31, 2024
Joe Biden
Joe Biden
stated on April 4, 2024 a post on TikTok:
Donald Trump’s plan is “cutting Social Security for you.”
Mostly False
By Louis Jacobson • June 21, 2024
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Latest Articles

Social Security office in Illinois
Elon Musk and Antonio Garcias in front of Social Security chart 03-30-2025
Elon Musk holding chainsaw CPAC 02-20-2025
Donald Trump ante el Congreso 03-05-2025
Trump addresses Congress 03-04-2025
Elon Musk en CPAC el 20 de febrero de 2025
Graphic for Musk's SS data post that lacks context 02-21-2025
Social Security card with thumb covering the number
U.S. Capitol, 10-29-2024
Ruben Gallego-Kari Lake Arizona U.S. Senate debate in Phoenix, 10-9-2024
Project 2025 sign
Nikki Haley at Peterborough NH rally Jan. 20, 2024
Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley behbind debate lecterns in Des Moines, Iowa, 1-10-2024
DeSantis en el debate republicano, 11-8-2023
Photo of Social Security card, for story 9-26-2023
Republican debaters composite, 8-23-2023
Ron DeSantis answers the press after SOS ad 3-7-2023dress
Biden en la Casa Blanca 9 de agosto, 2022
Biden with Rescue America brochure 11-3-22
Obama and Biden Philly rally
Load More

Latest promises about Social Security

Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Leave Social Security and Medicare unchanged
No direct benefit cuts to Social Security and Medicare, but some changes could have impacts | February 19, 2026
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
End taxation on Social Security
Older Americans get a tax deduction, but no elimination of Social Security taxation | July 7, 2025
Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Expand and increase Social Security benefits
Biden signs bipartisan law to end Social Security reductions for certain public-sector workers | January 8, 2025
Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Put Social Security on a path to long-run solvency
Biden failed to meaningfully extend Social Security’s solvency | December 2, 2024
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Make no cuts to Social Security
Trump proposed cuts, but Congress didn’t bite | July 15, 2020
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Oppose efforts to privatize Social Security
Social Security avoided privatization moves during Obama’s tenure | December 9, 2016
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Streamline the Social Security disability approval process
Obama’s stimulus program sped up the Social Security claims process, but the gains may not last | November 2, 2012
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Lift the payroll tax cap on earnings above $250,000
Payroll tax cap unchanged | April 30, 2012
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Expand the Senior Corps volunteer program
Serve America Act includes expansion of senior program | December 8, 2009
Latest promises about Social Security