Social Security beneficiaries and other people in the program’s database do not appear to appreciate a recent email from the department praising the passage of President Donald Trump’s budget.
“I am not a Social Security recipient but even if I was: Why am I getting an email from SSA celebrating this legislation? How is this an appropriate use of that ostensibly massive database?” asked Amanda Litman, president of political recruitment group ‘Run for Something’.
“Why is the Social Security Admin trying to gaslight seniors?” demanded another critic on X. “They're supposed to be nonpartisan. The mega bill will give a larger tax deduction for 4 years to seniors, but make no mistake about it, you will still pay fed tax on your social sec benefits.”
READ MORE: 'Dangerous and outrageous': Veterans erupt at Trump after he sends 200 Marines to Florida
The email, containing a message from Trump-appointed Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano, claims Trump’s budget “ensures that nearly 90 percent of Social Security beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits.”
This, say critics, is not truth. It is also a dangerous omission.
“We rated that statement Mostly False,” said Politifact analyst Louis Jacobson. “The bill will provide a tax break for Americans ages 65 and over, but it won’t eliminate the Social Security tax entirely. Some 24 million Social Security beneficiaries will still be taxed on some of their checks from the program, according to Congress’ bipartisan Joint Committee on Taxation’s staff director. Many of those are younger than 65 and thus ineligible for the new tax deduction.”
Jacobson added that the resulting reduction in payments to the Social Security trust fund will mean benefit cuts to beneficiaries will likely come sooner as the fund is threatened with insolvency.
READ MORE: Trump US attorney who is prosecuting Democrats now at risk of losing her law license
“And by experts’ analyses, anyone born after 1967 could see the effect,” Jacobson said.
Former Social Security Deputy Commissioner Jeff Nesbit slammed the email.
“The agency has never issued such a blatant political statement,” Nesbit posted on X. “The fact that Trump and his minion running SSA has done this is unconscionable.”
“Lies and propaganda,” said Medicaid beneficiary Lauren Ashley Davis.
“They are thrilled about the bill passing,” commented another. “I don’t understand why, as millions of people will lose their Medicaid. That’s worth more than taxes.”
Read the Newsweek report at this link