Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Do Illegal Aliens Receive Social Security Benefits?

Many people believe that illegal immigrants or undocumented workers receive social security benefits. That is false. Talk show hosts such as Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage not only seem to be part of spreading the untrue piece of information, it also leads to the message being passed around by word of mouth, via emails and online petitions.

Illegal immigrants apparently get in on the Social Security’s administrative system and receive benefits. Not true. Undocumented workers will never be entitled to claim social security benefits. Illegal immigrants are known to provide false social security numbers in order to prove they are documented workers, thus giving them to chance to start working. In October 2005, the earnings on which workers contribute towards Social Security racked up $520 billion.

However, some people still seem to believe that illegal immigrants are entitled to Social Security benefits. One fact that probably pushed the rumour is the vote in 2006 for an amendment to immigration reform laws. Even though the amendment was passed by Senate with a 50-49 vote, the bill died and there ended the amendment. Therefore, the truth is that illegal immigrants will only have a right to Social Security once they are granted amnesty, and when that does happen, they will have a right to Social Security benefits for prior work done in the country.

Undocumented workers also contribute towards Social Security taxes - the figure stands at a surprising $6 billion annually. The National Immigration Law Center says the money is directed towards the Earnings Suspense File, which is a repository for Social Security taxes which are paid by illegal immigrants who have either used false identities, forged document or incorrect Social Security numbers.

34 comments:

  1. are there figures on the costs vs. benefits of illegal immigrants? i.e. do we gain more through confiscated social security taxes than illegal immigrants cost us in other forms?

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    1. What they pay into social security is very little,6.2 percent,what it cost for free food,free medical(emergency room)free education,filling prisons,lost jobs,lower wages,millions of Americans out of work,more police,its in the 100-billions,what it is costing tax payers,drunk driving,rapes,murders,childmolesters,there Anchor babies are giving them a free ride,once they have a child,they can get section-8,free food,free school,free medical for their Anchor children.

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  2. Sam,
    It's my understanding that the funds collected from those receiving a paycheck with an incorrect Social Security number sits in the Earnings Suspense File permanently. Apparently, there has been money sitting in the ESF account since 1937. So, since the "confiscated social security taxes" are not being used for anything (although hopefully the money is earning interest!) it's doubtful the benefit from collecting the Social Security tax exceeds the cost.

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  3. For basic costs associated w/ illegal aliens per state see www.fairus.org

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  4. What happens when an illegal alien becomes naturalized and gains U.S. citizenship? Assuming the illegal alien used neither false identities nor forged documents, does he/she become entitled to claim Social Security benefits for prior work done?

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  5. Why is the left starting to call them undocumented workers, there was already a name that everybody called them and it described exactly what they are, illegal immigrants. I see you want to take the word illegal, and immigrant, and replace it with undocumented and worker, tell me, what does a person from the left call someone who is in the country illegaly, and has no work, "undocumented immigrant". These are the reasons I never vote democrat, I am a social liberal, a fiscal conservative, and I HATE (a term liberals dislike very much) political correctness. THEY ARE "ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS".

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    1. Every American is an ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT. When did you ever get a visa from the Native Americans who owned this country? When did you ever get permission to enter someone else's country?
      Do you think that taking it by force makes you legal, NO, every 'American' (make that Englishman, German, Irishman, Italian etc:), enetered this country liiegally.
      So no 'American' has the right to judge others when they broke this country's natural, unwritten laws and then wrote their own to protect their future status.
      Writing a Law to protect your future doesn't make you legal.

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    2. Condor, that's hogwash. In the history of mankind, there have been many conquered people who have lost their lands. By your reasoning, no one, of any land, has a right to it.
      The fact that Europeans took over this continent by conquering the native peoples is simply a fact of life. Deal with it.
      This country was created by a rebellion against the tyranny of the British Empire, therefore, any "American" who inherited this land from the forefathers is a legal resident and those that came here without going through the system set up by "Americans" are, by definition, illegal.

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    3. I get tired of hearing the justification of illegal immigrants by Condor's reasoning. It can only be described as ignorant. Thank you ARK for providing an intelligent response that I can use when others are reasoning the same way.

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  7. Dear Andrew,

    Immigrants are not necessarily illegal (buy a dictionary and look it up). An immigrant is someone that came to this country but was not born here and they therefore immigrated. You may recall that your grandmother/father or great grandmother/father were immigrants too. As a matter of fact, here is some history you probably didn’t learn in school…the true "Americans" are Native Americans whom were here before you and your descendants stole their land, raped their women and then made them "Illegal Aliens". Be open-minded. These are good, hard working people you’re talking about that only want what you, your grandparents or great grandparents wanted... an opportunity to give their family a good life. Most of these people live modest lives, work hard, give back to their communities and the United States while receiving very little back in services or even respect. The traits of these people ANY TRUE AMERICAN would be proud of. We should have more people like this in our country.

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    1. Dear Arnie: ".......good hardworking people......only want what you and your grandparents wanted......opportunity to give their family a good life." This is another line of reasoning by pro-illegals that is seriously flawed, ignorant and selfish. If you refuse to believe the facts and statistics on this page, then go to another source and check it out. I urge you to educate yourself about the negative impact that illegal immigrants are forcing on this country, its citizens and yes, even immigrants. I am talking about immigrants who choose to immigrate the legal way. What you advocate is for people who want to come here to cut in front of everyone else, to cut in front of good hardworking people who want a better life for their family, to start out by committing a crime and further aggravate it by using fake identification and/or a legitimate citizen's ID which screws up their life. Respect, honesty and compassion is a reciprocal process and can never be based on the deceitful, demanding and selfish behavior of illegal immigrants.

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  8. I recently went to the Soc Sec office with my son to get a replacement ss card for him. The office was packed with Mexicans. What do you suppose they were doing there?

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    1. If I was a 'Mexican', the LAST place I would be in is the SS Office, where ICE would be notified if the Interviewer suspected I was illegal or fraudulently applying for benefits.
      For 'Mexicans' (or were they Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Salvadorans or other Hispanics)to be there, must prove they are very brave stupid or in fact legal.
      Think about it.

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    2. On the contrary, you will find this situation in many social security offices. You obviously haven't been to one recently. Your right in that they cannot legally apply for social security benefits but if they have a child born in the U.S., they can apply and are eligible for Social Supplemental Income under the childs name. SSI benefits does not require a work history but is based on income. Having an American born child opens the door to giving illegals benefits for everything including housing, food, welfare, and medical. It also ensures that they can get their relatives over here through chain migration. So if you were an illegal Mexican with a child or access to one or a phony and/or legitimate social security number, that is actually the FIRST place you would be. Like I said earlier, your ignorant of the negative impact illegal immigrants are having on this once great country.

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  9. Dear Brian, don't be coy. You’re implying that those supposed Mexicans were illegal and you’re also implying that they were dishonestly getting social security benefits. Suppose they were there as an American Resident or American CITIZEN? That would definitely make them legally eligible for social security benefits (or would you perhaps argue against someone working all their lives just like you and not receive anything?). They were probably doing the same thing you were doing. I'm telling you, there's NO WAY people can do what you're insinuating. Don't make statements like that without any basis or research especially in these times when they’re so much unfounded hatred of immigrants and illegal people. OTHER ignorant and GULLIBLE people might believe you and think your statement is actually based on facts.

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  10. Illegal aliens buy SSN numbers and the one they buy maybe yours. Then not only do they work with it, they buy homes, vehicles, obtain credit cards and you will never know why you can't obtain credit...google Robert Guenterberg see what I mean

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  11. Anyone can illegally buy SS#s on the black market. You make it sound as if illegal immigrants are the ones stealing people identities when in fact the majority of those aggressors are white caucasians. Guess what, the next identity that might be stolen is yours...by Joe or Bob, your next door neighbor.

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  12. I know what you're talking about, it's not just the SS office. You'll see herds of them inside and outside all the free stuff offices talking on their free cell phones. And we don't have enough money to take care of our elderly.

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  13. Arnie - I suppose it's a never-ending job explaining the law to bigots. There are too many Americans with little compassion or understanding. I read that if amnesty were given to the existing illegal immigrants, something like 3.1 million would qualify for Medicaid, which would be over $8 billion a year. During our current economic tough times, that would be a political hurdle for many of our lawmakers.

    Cliff

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  14. Finally someone sane. I thought I was the only person with any sence.

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  15. Stop lying to people! PRUCOL's are illegal aliens and are eligible for all entitlements including SSI!
    Just complete form G-845 from USICS and you can become premanent resident under color of law. Very colorful, doesn't matter how you got here.

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    1. fredpuppy: you're a moron. Read for yourself.... "This helps ensure that illegal immigrants cannot receive public benefits for which they do not pay taxes and cannot receive licenses in order to legally practice in the United States while they aren’t legally here." This comes straight from the U.S. Immigration website, first paragraph.
      http://www.us-immigration.com/cart/immigration-news/proving-immigration-status-with-form-g845.html

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  16. My mother has a friend who collects Social Security based on the fact that she does not have a greencard. She is NOT disabled. Obviously they ARE collecting.

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    1. Not without form g-845 from US Immigration! If she's collecting, she's in the US legally. Nice try.

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  17. The word Illegal says it all. They should NOT be here, and should NOT share in any benefits paid for by taxes emposed on legal American Citizens.

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  18. I bet if you asked an illegal to pay for the services to be documented, many would cry poor becauce it is free under section I22. And why should they pay when others are getting this for free.
    I have never seen an Illegal wait in line, thats why we call them border jumpers.

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    1. I'll take that bet. They aren't getting SSI that they paid in, and I'll bet you they would GLADLY pay to be documented!

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  19. The article is inaccurate. Permanently Reside Here Under Color of Law ("PRUCOL" aliens) can and do receive social security benefits even if they have paid zero into the system.

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  20. Silly Americans. How many of you people actually know the immigration process? This is quite an old article but I'm very sick of hearing ignorant, biased opinions on the Internet.
    Let me clue y'all in, give you a little background about me: I immigrated from a foreign country with my family when I was ten years old- under a B1 tourist visa. My parents, both professionals, took us to the US. After our Visas had expired, my parents applied to extend them. But there's only so much you can do, and thus, we in legal terms, had overstayed. But we entered legally. The glitz of America had pulled us in, and my mother wanfed to give us a better oppurtunity. Through luck and my parents' intelligence, we were able to stay hidden in the US for a decade, obtain state IDs and DLs LEGALLY (though they did expire), work under the table and save money. The only benefits we had been receiving were WIC for my brother (3 until 5 yrs old) and public health insurance for him and I. I was a sickly child, and those benefits helped a lot. When I turned 18 however, woosh- no more insurance for me. My father diligently paid his taxes using an ITIN. He DID buy a fake SS# (which we laugh at today), but never received anything from it. All his paychecks were all paid to him, and to this day, his former employer is now his best client (he's an electrical contractor)
    This employer also sponsored him for an work-based petition. Now this petition never followed through because immigration amnesty was never granted by Bush or Obama. We had all just been patiently waiting, me entering university, studying as a nurse, driving illegally without a license and constantly terrified, when I met husband. Long story short, we married, filed to adjust my status, and eventually got my employment authorization card (which I used to get myself a SS#), and my green card. and now all is well, with my parents and their businesses and me considering joining the Navy.
    Not all undocumented immigrants get the benefits you all do. A lot of these immigrants aren't even aware they can get these. I'm offended by the person who complained about the Mexicans in the SS office. How dare you? You should be ashamed. I'm no Mexican but how ignorant of a comment. They must have been there through some legal virtue. One illegal immigrant who "hopped the border" can't simply walk in and get an SS#. They need an I-94, or an arrival/departure record. Obviously those who just jumped the fence as y'all so blatantly call it do not posses such document. Even those who crossed illegally and marry a citizen cannot adjust their status as they legally, on paper, never had one to begin with.
    Being a legal immigrant is not cheap either. Filing alone cost me $2000 dollars, as well as a $10000 wedding. But if that's what it takes to be a part of this country, fine.
    These aliens are the most hardworking people I know. Some with no days off, even working holidays when no one else will. They're aware that they are ineligible to receive the benefits Americans do, so they constantly work. No social security. No unemployment collection. But Americans know there is always help.
    And now they blame an nonexistent population when really all they need to do is work as hard as these people. It's quite pathetic. These individuals can make a fraction of what a citizen makes, pay their bills, and send some money to their loved ones in their home country. They can fend for themselves. They have no government supporting them. Neither America nor their country of citizenship. They are on middle ground. But Americans love to demand, love help to be handed down to them. Now I'm not saying all Americans are like this- I speak only of the people who let their prejudice and ignorance guide their selfish minds through a terrible territory of nonexistent humility.

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  21. I have a three year old grand baby who was fathered by an "Illegal" He died christmas eve and I don't care what his status was he was a good father to her and worked his ass off to provide what she needed...anyways...my question is this...she was born here and of course my daughter is a citizen can she recieve survivors benefits??? My daughter needs some kind of answer so if anyone w/ positive comments could plz help answer this I would greatly appreciate it

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  22. I am in the situation my daughters father work and pay taxes under a ITIN number for the past few years. They are only 3 months old and he was are everything and now I'm upset because we are not entitled to anything it's so crazy

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