Social Security Sends False Propaganda Email to Beneficiaries

Shortly after Congress sent its monstrous budget and police state bill to Donald Trump to be signed into law, the Social Security Administration sent email to all its subscribers cheering the bill for giving them tax breaks that it does not give them.

Sent just before 21:00 on 3 July 2025 Eastern USA time, its subject line said “Social Security Applauds Passage of Legislation Providing Historic Tax Relief for Seniors.”

The body of the email said:

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.

It was false, echoing equally false propaganda on the official White House website about the subject. The same material also appeared on the Social Security website. Trump publicly stated the lie at a rally in Iowa the day the email went out and again the following day when he signed the bill into law.

The budget reconciliation process Republicans used to avoid a filibuster in the Senate does not allow anything resembling elimination of income tax on Social Security benefits.

The bill does create a temporary tax deduction of up to $6,000 for individuals aged 65 and above, and $12,000 for married seniors filing jointly, with adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less (or for couples filing jointly, $150,000 or less). The deduction is not linked with income from Social Security benefits. This deduction only lasts through the end of 2028, just after the next Presidential election.

In practice, for seniors with low income, the new deduction will have no practical effect. The percentage of recipients who do not owe tax on their Social Security benefits will scarcely budge.

Until this email, the Social Security Administration’s communications with the public have been non-partisan and factual.

Replies to the email questioning it bounced. Beneficiaries who logged into their accounts to send questions or feedback about it found no way to do so.

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