SSA sent me this spam- how true is it?

[RainCaster]

I received the following yesterday from the SSA (Social Security Administration). I've not heard of this crap before, so I'm left wondering just how true is all this BS?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is celebrating the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill, a landmark piece of legislation that delivers long-awaited tax relief to millions of older Americans.

The bill ensures that nearly 90% of Social Security beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits, providing meaningful and immediate relief to seniors who have spent a lifetime contributing to our nation's economy.

“This is a historic step forward for America’s seniors,” said Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano. “For nearly 90 years, Social Security has been a cornerstone of economic security for older Americans. By significantly reducing the tax burden on benefits, this legislation reaffirms President Trump’s promise to protect Social Security and helps ensure that seniors can better enjoy the retirement they’ve earned."

The new law includes a provision that eliminates federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for most beneficiaries, providing relief to individuals and couples. Additionally, it provides an enhanced deduction for taxpayers aged 65 and older, ensuring that retirees can keep more of what they have earned.

Social Security remains committed to providing timely, accurate information to the public and will continue working closely with federal partners to ensure beneficiaries understand how this legislation may affect them.

[CousinIT]

1. It's not true. And SSA should NOT be wasting OUR money sending out polticial propaganda.

Social Security taxes are not eliminated. At least not totally and maybe not at all. If they are eliminated in whole or in part, THAT is itself a backdoor cut (of billions) to Social Security.

Additionally, it may constitute another backdoor cut to Social Security, as I believe that extra tax deduction is ultimately taken from Social Security. It's a backdoor cut being sold as a tax cut. It's not a tax cut. It's a cut to Social Security, it seems, however you parse it.

I could be wrong. Somebody will correct me if I am. I HOPE I'M WRONG.

I got that email too. And I'm BEYOND PISSED that it's full of LIES and that SSA is wasting MY MONEY sending out political propaganda to people!

[cbabe]

2. Not true. Lies and propaganda. Lots of du posts and msm posts.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20457536

[Silent Type]

3. It's definitely hyperbole and lies. However, it is true that less people will pay tax on SS. Ain't much of a savings

but the BBB will provide savings to many people who used to pay taxes averaging $50 or so a month.

[RandomNumbers]

6. Some people will pay less tax.

Many who pay tax today, will continue to pay tax.

See also:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20458251

[Silent Type]

8. More people will pay less tax. That's a fact. Other people -- who make very high income -- will continue to pay tax.

It makes no sense to tell someone who will now pay a little less in taxes, that they don't get any benefit. They'll look at us like we are a liars.

Think it's a waste of time trying to use the SS, overtime, tips tax change as an example of trump's vileness, there is plenty of other crap in the Bill that is a better arguement for that.

[RandomNumbers]

13. I agree that its rhetorical effectiveness is limited. (SS tax deduction)

But for a progressive, the FACT is that the people who need to benefit, WON'T. It is a giant scam.

Some people will benefit, sure. And the sad fact is that we need any votes we get from that demographic. But at the same time, it takes money OUT of the SS trust fund, thus hastening the time that a real reckoning for Social Security will be required - and since we cannot trust Congress to get it done, I expect MY benefits to be reduced when I most need them.

The SS thing, as written, is bad policy and WILL HURT PEOPLE. But - trying to explain it is too intricate. That is why it works for the repukes.

Discussing it here - where hopefully we are all willing to consider the intricacies - is different than using it in a campaign ad. IMO Dems should really not talk about this unless asked directly. If asked, they should be fair in describing both the costs and benefits for the audience to which they are speaking.

I am not speaking here about the other items you mention, they each have their own pros and cons. If I am right about the OT thing, it will be another thumb on the scale against proper staffing in support areas at my company. Oh well, what is a little more pain for me, after all? But more importantly, I haven't researched that yet, and my understanding could be mistaken.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

15. This is a reduction

in income tax for some people…it has no impact on the Social Security Trust Fund.

[RandomNumbers]

16. Yes, it does impact the trust fund,

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/07/02/senior-deduction-trump-social-security/

Emphasis added.

Still, the provision has also faced criticism for exacerbating the already grim financial outlook for Social Security, even though it doesn’t directly touch the structure of the program. That’s because Social Security benefits are partially taxable under current law, and the revenue from those taxes is funneled into the program’s trust fund that then disburses benefits. By reducing the amount of income that seniors owe taxes on, the new deduction would shrink the share of Social Security benefits subject to taxation, lowering the revenue flowing into the trust funds.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” — the name Republicans have given the 2025 legislative package — would move up the Social Security trust fund’s exhaustion date by about one year, from 2033 to 2032, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. That is the same year today’s 60-year-olds will reach the program’s full retirement age, and when today’s youngest retirees will turn 69, the committee said.

Among those seniors who would qualify for the deduction, the savings would vary significantly based on their income and filing status. A couple over age 65 earning $100,000 could see their taxable income drop $12,000 with the deduction, while a single filer earning $40,000 might reduce their taxable income by only a few hundred dollars. And many seniors who are wealthy would probably qualify for the deduction because their annual earnings are in the low six figures.

...

“It’s essentially for middle- and upper-middle income people — rich people don’t get it, and it doesn’t do any good for lower-income people because they already make less than the standard deduction, before the new senior bonus,” said Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

17. Thank you for the correction!

I didn’t know that

[gulliver]

20. Very disappointed in our Dems on this issue

We should have been talking real accounting like "The fund dry-up year was 2033, now it's 2032. Thanks, Republicans!"

I heard a lot of pandering to sweetie-pie stuff and class resentment and tired scare words and hearkening back to FDR. No numbers. No fire. We better as hell get our act together before this next election. This bill should give us back Congress with a healthy majority.

[haele]

4. Lol. It's total propaganda.

Vague advertising language.
The real message should be "You might be one of the lucky duckies that are 90% of the Social Security beneficiaries we feel we are legally committed to - which are the current elderly workers without any other pensions whose employers paid into the system, and their spouses - that's to say, Grandpa and Grandma."

For everyone else that's not getting Social Security retirement...well, trust them. That's the next be calm, we aren't really picking your pockets and leaving you working saps to starve in the streets email to people not yet collecting SSI - "In the future, we have plans to maximise the money you and your employer already put in".

Also, the email only discussed the elderly. What about the disabled recipients and dependent survivors? And what about Medicare?

[Dan]

5. Yes we received an email like that and

Just recognized that TRUMP likes to be praised, so that is that agency’s attempt to kiss his ass.

[MineralMan]

7. Propaganda. I just deleted it.

The reality is that Social Security recipients will keep getting their benefits. That's a good thing. But I don't trust any promises from Trump, and that email is just blowing Trump's horn.

[Ilsa]

9. I got it also. Trump propaganda, like when he signed

the checks.

[Klarkashton]

10. Unless you made more that 22k or something in addition to

SS you weren't paying tax on it anyway. I don't know what they have done but I'll bet it isn't much and it probably comes as a tax detuction that nobody qualifies for or is of any value.

[MichMan]

11. I'm retired but my spouse is still working

Sounds like we would certainly qualify

[TheBlackAdder]

12. I got the same thing, seems it's from the legit SSA site.

[roamer65]

14. I deleted it.

Looks like phishing crap to me.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

18. I am almost positive the Social Security Administration never

sends emails like this. They use the US mail.

[Hugin]

19. Big Balls has been busy...

I got one too. Even though I personally will never benefit from the Republican's BOHICA Bill of Shame.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

21. I got the same email

[Vinca]

22. I got it, too. It's bullshit. Every arm of the government is now a propaganda machine for Dear Leader.