MTG warns the US government ‘just blindly’ sends checks to anyone — whether dead or alive, citizen or non-citizen. Here’s her solution to save $1 trillion of ‘waste, fraud, and abuse’

Misleading claims

The claim that the Social Security Administration “blindly” sends out checks is misleading.

Non-citizens or foreign-born workers with legal permits pay into the system at the same rate as citizens but collect fewer benefits on average, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Meanwhile, undocumented workers contributed an estimated $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes — typically through borrowed or fraudulent Social Security numbers. These individuals are not eligible to receive benefits.

While the agency isn’t immune to fraud and improper payments, the overall impact is minimal.

During a press conference on March 18, Lee Dudek, the agency’s acting commissioner, estimated that annual losses due to direct deposit fraud at roughly $100 million. That represents just 0.00625% of the $1.6 trillion the government distributes annually in Social Security benefits, according to the Brookings Institute.

That figure is nowhere close to Greene’s claims of $1 trillion per year on X. Her claim would amount to 62.5% of the SSA’s total projected payouts for 2025.

Nevertheless, the Congresswoman continues to insist that tighter identity verification procedures could help reduce fraud.

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Stringent ID requirements

The SSA has confirmed that updated ID policies will be implemented by April 14. Under the new rules, more people will need to visit a Social Security office in person to make changes to their direct deposit information.

Critics argue that these changes come at a time when the agency is still reeling from mass layoffs and office closures by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency. In February, the SSA announced a 12% reduction in its workforce and a reduction in field offices from 10 to 4, according to AARP.

“The customer service situation at Social Security has really declined in the past month or so,” Bill Sweeney, senior vice president of government affairs at AARP, told CNBC. He noted that the average wait time for the SSA’s 800 number rose from 11 minutes in November to 21.2 minutes.

This could be a good time to log in to your SSA account and double-check your details to ensure the agency has the correct information. If not, contact SSA to make any necessary corrections or updates and to avoid delays in receiving your benefits.