Overview
Title
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to exclude from creditable wages and self-employment income wages earned for services by aliens illegally performed in the United States and self-employment income derived from a trade or business illegally conducted in the United States.
ELI5 AI
This bill wants to change the rules so that people who work in the United States without permission don't count their earnings towards Social Security, which is a program that helps people when they retire.
Summary AI
H.R. 1172, known as the “No Social Security for Illegal Aliens Act of 2025,” proposes changes to the Social Security Act to prevent earnings from unauthorized work by illegal aliens in the United States from being counted as creditable wages for Social Security benefits. The bill seeks to amend sections of the Act to exclude wages and self-employment income earned from unauthorized employment and activities from being included in Social Security calculations. These changes would apply to income earned both before and after the bill's enactment, affecting future Social Security benefits for those involved.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, introduced in the 119th Congress, is aimed at amending Title II of the Social Security Act. Specifically, it seeks to exclude wages and self-employment income earned by unauthorized aliens from being counted towards Social Security benefits. This exclusion is applied to services performed and businesses conducted without legal authorization in the United States. The bill proposes making these changes retroactively applicable to such earnings, regardless of when they were earned, by instructing the Commissioner of Social Security to adjust primary insurance amounts accordingly.
Summary of Significant Issues
One of the bill's main issues stems from its title and terminology. The use of the phrase "Illegal Aliens" is controversial and can be seen as pejorative. More neutral terms, like "undocumented immigrants," could be considered less offensive.
The bill also faces challenges due to ambiguous language. Terms such as "authorized" and "alien" lack clear definitions within the bill. This could lead to varying interpretations and make enforcing the legislation complex. Furthermore, the bill's reliance on cross-referencing existing sections of the Social Security Act without offering additional context may create legal complexities.
The effective date's wording, using expressions like "as soon as practicable," is vague and does not delineate clear timelines for implementation. This could lead to uncertainties for those affected by the amendments, particularly regarding financial planning.
Impact on the Public
If enacted, this bill could have widespread implications, especially among workers residing in the United States without legal authorization. By denying them Social Security benefits, it may push these individuals closer to economic instability. On the other hand, proponents may argue that the bill serves to preserve the integrity of Social Security funds for workers who have adhered to legal employment standards.
From a broader perspective, the bill touches on larger societal debates around the rights and recognition afforded to undocumented immigrants. It complicates an already fraught issue, raising questions about fairness, the value of labor contributions, and humanitarian considerations.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Those most directly impacted would be unauthorized immigrants working in the United States. By excluding their wages from Social Security calculations, they would likely find it harder to have any financial cushion related to retirement or disability that such benefits would offer.
The legislation could also have significant implications for employers who rely heavily on undocumented labor. It may affect how businesses report wages or navigate compliance to avoid potential liabilities related to inaccurate reporting. Industries dependent on such labor may experience disruptions if workers are more incentively discouraged from seeking employment.
On the other hand, the legislation might be seen as beneficial to citizens and documented workers who could perceive it as a measure to keep the Social Security system solvent by restricting its access only to those who have a legal right to work. It balances the resources allocated within the system, yet must be weighed against the ethical concerns over excluding a segment of the workforce from public benefits.
In conclusion, while the bill addresses specific legal and fiscal concerns regarding unauthorized immigrants' access to Social Security benefits, it does so amid broader ethical, legal, and societal debates. The challenge remains to balance the legal integrity of public benefits systems with the human and economic realities of undocumented labor.
Issues
The title 'No Social Security for Illegal Aliens Act of 2025' (Section 1) uses the term 'Illegal Aliens', which might be considered outdated, pejorative, or offensive. Consider using more neutral language such as 'undocumented immigrants'. This language choice could have political and ethical implications.
Section 2's exclusion of unauthorized employment from creditable wages involves undefined terminology like 'alien', which could lead to ambiguity unless clarified elsewhere in the legislation. This raises legal concerns about the clarity and enforceability of the law.
Section 3 deals with unauthorized functions and services related to self-employment income but provides ambiguous language regarding what constitutes 'authorization'. This lack of clarity in legal definitions can result in varied interpretations and inconsistencies in application, impacting affected individuals.
The effective date in Section 4 lacks specificity, with phrases like 'as soon as practicable' regarding recomputation of primary insurance amounts, creating uncertainty about the timeline for implementation, which has financial implications for beneficiaries.
The bill's amendments (Sections 2 and 3) affect unauthorized workers' eligibility for Social Security credits, raising ethical and political debates about the treatment of undocumented immigrants and their contributions to the economy.
The bill references other laws (e.g., 42 U.S.C. 410(a)(19) in Section 2 and 42 U.S.C. 411(c) in Section 3) without providing context or ensuring consistency with cross-referenced laws, leading to potential legal complexities and misunderstandings.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill specifies its short title, which is the “No Social Security for Illegal Aliens Act of 2025.”
2. Exclusion of unauthorized employment from employment upon which creditable wages may be based Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The amendment to the Social Security Act specifies that wages earned by an unauthorized alien working in the United States cannot be counted as creditable wages for Social Security benefits. This change clarifies that only work performed by authorized individuals can contribute to Social Security earnings.
3. Exclusion of unauthorized functions and services from trade or business from which creditable self-employment income may be derived Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The amendment to the Social Security Act specifies that any function or service performed by an unauthorized alien in the U.S. will not count as part of their self-employment income for Social Security purposes.
4. Effective date Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section states that the changes made by the Act will apply to wages and self-employment income earned before, on, or after the Act's enactment. Additionally, the Social Security Commissioner is required to recalculate insurance benefits as necessary, with these changes impacting benefits only for future months after the Act becomes law.