President Donald Trump marked the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act during a White House event on Thursday by signing a proclamation and detailing how his administration is delivering on key 2024 campaign promises to seniors – including eliminating taxes on Social Security for most recipients.
“To this day, Social Security is rooted in a simple promise: those who gave their careers to building our Nation will always have the support, stability, and relief they deserve,” the proclamation states. “Thanks to my Administration’s efforts, Social Security now stands stronger and more resilient than ever before.”
Trump explained at the event how the Social Security Administration (SSA) has improved services during his second term, including reducing field office wait times by 30 percent, reducing call wait times by 80 percent while handling more calls, and providing constant online access to beneficiaries. He also explained that the administration has kicked hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens off the Social Security system this year.
“Last month, I signed the One Big Beautiful Bill and allowed no tax on Social Security for our great seniors… and to protect our benefits, we’ve already kicked nearly 275,000 illegal aliens off of the Social Security system,” Trump said. Democrats and many in the corporate media had notably claimed that no illegal aliens were on the program.
Along with removing illegal aliens from the program, the administration says it has identified more than “$1 billion in cost avoidance and efficiencies this fiscal year.” The agency has also addressed billions in improper payments, part of Trump’s commitment to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse from the federal government – and protect benefits for the Americans who are entitled to them.
According to the administration, wait times at field offices have decreased by 23 percent with “five times as many visitors” now having scheduled appointments compared to last year. All field offices are also fully staffed following a Trump directive ordering federal employees to return to the office in person.
The SSA has also seen a 26 percent reduction in the backlog of initial disability claims since last year, with the average wait time for a disability hearing decreasing by 60 days. Additionally, beneficiaries now have “24/7/365 access” to their online Social Security accounts compared to the previous 29 hours of weekly downtime.
According to a White House fact sheet, “Over 3.1 million payments — totaling more than $17 billion — were sent to eligible beneficiaries under the Social Security Fairness Act five months ahead of schedule.”
Contrary to media claims that the Trump administration’s staffing cuts would reduce SSA responsiveness, the revamped, leaner agency now appears to be more responsive than it was previously.
SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano joined the President in the Oval Office and discussed how improvements are being made under his leadership. The Senate confirmed him to his position in May. He explained that he has worked to improve the system during his brief time in the position.
“If you make an appointment to have a field office visit, it now happens in six minutes — unprecedented,” Bisignano said. “We are serving more people and delivering more than was ever delivered before in a manner with the highest possible quality, and we’ve just begun. You should expect this to be a great digital first agency.”
The White House further elaborated on improvements to the SSA under Trump’s leadership. The One Big Beautiful Bill ensures that 88 percent of Social Security beneficiaries have exemptions and tax deductions exceeding their taxable Social Security incomes – in effect, eliminating taxes on Social Security for the vast majority of recipients.
White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston praised Trump for his efforts to improve the Social Security system for beneficiaries.
“While Democrats flail and peddle lies about Social Security, President Trump is demonstrating his unbreakable commitment to protecting and strengthening this vital program for the nearly 72 million Americans who benefit from it,” she said. “By massively improving the customer service experience through technological improvements, preventing illegal aliens from accessing benefits, and delivering no taxes on Social Security through the One Big Beautiful Bill, President Trump has Made Social Security Great Again.”
Alan Jamison is the pen name of a political writer with extensive experience writing for several notable politicians and news outlets.
True achievements, but President Trump needs to address the Biden administration’s manipulation of the price index used to calculate annual SS increases over the last 3 years. Inflation was MUCH high than reported and as a result seniors and other recipients are now in a hole, when it comes to keeping up with inflation.
It’s supposed to be a “Cost of Living” increase, but Biden lied to make himself look better, and said screw social security recipients.
Social Security was never meant to be a retiree’s only source of income but it seems to have become that for a lot of people. Since taxes were already paid on the money that went into SS accounts, it’s only fair that seniors not be taxed again. Congratulations, President Trump, for righting another wrong in our country.
the idiot squirrels at aarp are publishing lies about Trump , SS and the GOP.. Lame stream media has gone down the toilet since the hounding of Senator McCarthy to his grave. This bunch of communists are the offspring of the worthless trash that lied to America daily and that was in the early 1950s, but morons are quick to point out that communism is dead.. not really it has just changed is costume – now they call themselves democrats, the guardians of Democracy..
What about a raise? I don’t know about you but after depleting my 401K and savings I cannot make it on $1700 a month! Can you?
Nice changes but unless Trump can overcome treason party demagoguery nothing will change the train wreck trajectory SS is on. Bush tried after winning reelection and was buried in a mudslide of commie lies that fixing things amounted to reducing payments. That was twenty yrs ago.
Now they need to pass the bill that secures SS benefits for seniors. Congress cannot borrow from Sic Sec and is no longer an entitlement but guaranteed to legal eligible citizen. Also pay back what was borrowed from Sic Sec in real monies not certificates. I’m
About a year and a half ago I filed an appeal and was told it would take three years to process it.
There is no mention of the appeal or its status on my social security web account.
A few months.
Ago I called several times to inquire as to the status of it. I was put on hold every time for so long that the call finally disconnected before anyone ever answered it.
I gave up trying and have not bothered to waste my time since.
Give SS funds from fraud, waste, abuse & X% from tariff revenues can Help
Getting rid of the middle man always makes things more efficient!
What About The Ones Living Only On S S Wear is our increase We Are The Ones Who Need It Most ?
The true way to make social security great would be to allow everyone the choice to opt-out of the program and have an individual IRA type account where their FICA tax would be deposited.
Great work! Unfortunately the OBBB won’t help me when I start drawing SSI when I retire. I also agree with johnh, what’s being done to keep SSI from running out of money in the next decade?
Could he please give us an increase in our checks?
When will all the monies taken from the SS Fund be replaced back. . . Back in the late 60’s congress said; “It is only a loan and it will be paid back.” Now 57 years later not one cent had been paid back. Back then SS Fund had a surplus that would have never run out, but that changed when greedy congress systematically lied to We the People.
When will we see the tax break on our Social Security Payout?
Some of us had to take care of a sick parent (no money saved) and have no pension. We don’t always have a choice!
The President keeps stating “no tax on social security”, this is incorrect. Check the new bill, income limits are still there just higher and expire in 4 years.
I welcome all of President Trump’s victories in the Medicare arena, but please give the middle-class Medicare recipients an actual cost-of-living increase! We are stuck in the middle, making too much to qualify for EPT or the help of Medicaid! Therefore, we are being financially strangled, and nobody seems to care. NOBODY.
I support DJT in most things (3X voter), but as a longtime tax preparer, I seriously doubt that “88 percent of Social Security beneficiaries have exemptions and tax deductions exceeding their taxable Social Security incomes”. Let’s be clear. The changes did NOT get rid of the 50/85% rule when filing your income tax, nor did it increase the limit on other income, which hasn’t increased in a very long time.
We’re not rich, but I ran the numbers for my situation, and just having my SS benefits plus my wife’s (still) puts us over the 85% limit, WITHOUT EVEN COUNTING “OTHER INCOME” (i.e.401K, jobs, etc.). And, the $12 thousand deduction does NOT make up for that.
Bottom line: don’t assume no taxes on SS – check with your tax professional!
I must have missed it but when will the taxes be removed? When will we see our checks without taxes?
Neat way field office wait times were eliminated in my area. The field office was closed, as in forever. Now that is thinking outside the box!
Now, Donnie, release the Epstein Files. A massive percentage of the global population is now thinking you are featured prominently in those files. If you aren’t, release the things and prove all the “weak and stupid” people out here, wrong.
Trump & Frank did not offer any solutions to keep SS going another 90 years. I sounds like they have made some improvements in office & telephone work and that is about it. About a week ago, his Secretary Bessant said that a bill was a start of privatizing Social Security & Trump has never explained that. Also, look back at 2019 when Trump said that if re.elected, he would roll the Social Security Trust Fund in to the General Fund & I remind all readers that there is a +$2.5 Trillion in fund in 2025. Congress needs to adjust taxes to shore this up & keep the fund as is as it has worked for 90 years.
Not many seniors/retirees file income tax. Calls are answered faster just so they can schedule you an appointment in a month or so. BBB my a–.