HB1172, titled the "No Social Security for Illegal Aliens Act of 2025," would amend Title II of the Social Security Act to exclude certain work performed by unauthorized immigrants from being counted as "creditable" wages or self-employment income for Social Security purposes. Specifically, it would bar wages earned by an alien while employed in the United States during any period when the person is not authorized to work, and it would also exclude self-employment income derived from a trade or business or services performed while the person is not authorized to perform them.
The bill also directs the Social Security Commissioner to recompute primary insurance amounts as needed to implement these changes, and it states that the amendments apply to wages and self-employment income earned before, on, or after enactment. Although the bill would not change immigration status or employment authorization rules directly, it would alter how certain earnings are treated under Social Security benefit calculations and could reduce future benefit amounts for affected individuals.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would amend sections 210 and 211 of the Social Security Act to redefine which wages and self-employment income count toward Social Security coverage and benefit calculations. It would require the Social Security Administration to recalculate primary insurance amounts to reflect the exclusion of earnings from unauthorized work, and the changes would apply retroactively and prospectively to earnings, with benefit effects only after enactment. The practical impact would fall on unauthorized workers whose earnings would no longer increase Social Security benefits, and on SSA administration and benefit computation procedures.
Sentiment
There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so formal legislative sentiment cannot be measured from debate or roll call data. Based on the bill’s sponsorship and title, the measure appears to be framed by its supporters as an enforcement-oriented Social Security reform aimed at preventing unauthorized work from generating federal retirement benefits. The absence of recorded opposition or support in the provided context means sentiment can only be inferred from the bill’s partisan and policy framing, not from documented committee discussion.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely whether earnings from unauthorized work should count toward Social Security benefits. Supporters are likely to argue that the bill protects the integrity of the Social Security system and prevents benefits from accruing based on unlawful employment, while opponents may argue that it is punitive, administratively difficult, and could create fairness or due-process concerns for workers whose earnings histories are affected. Another likely issue is the bill’s retroactive application, since it would reach wages and self-employment income earned before enactment and require recomputation of benefits, which could raise implementation and equity concerns.