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Rumors About Illegal Immigrants and Social Security Are Untrue

If an illegal immigrant obtains a fake social security card, they will not receive social security benefits.
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Rumors About Illegal Immigrants and Social Security Are Untrue
A fake social security card does not give the owner benefits. Heller/Shutterstock
Tom Margenau
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For years, I’ve been hearing silly rumors about undocumented immigrants and Social Security. And those rumors seem to have multiplied many times in this election season. Here are several examples.

Q: I’ve heard on the news that illegal aliens are getting $2,000 per month from Social Security. This is an outrage. I am a born and raised American. And I only get $1,400. How does the government justify this? No wonder the system is going broke!

Tom Margenau
Tom Margenau
Author
Tom Margenau worked for 32 years in a variety of positions for the Social Security Administration before retiring in 2005. He has served as the director of SSA’s public information office, the chief editor of more than 100 SSA publications, a deputy press officer and spokesman, and a speechwriter for the commissioner of Social Security. For 12 years, he also wrote Social Security columns for local newspapers, and recently published the book “Social Security: Simple and Smart.” If you have a Social Security question, contact him at [email protected]
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