Unclaimed Billions: How Immigrants Are Propping Up Social Security—Without a Safety Net

Immigrants Social Security

A Hidden Contribution

The U.S. Social Security system is a cornerstone of economic stability for retirees and workers. But there’s a lesser-known side to it: billions of dollars in Social Security contributions are paid by immigrants—many of whom will never receive benefits.

As someone who’s worked across federal policy, border governance, and now as CEO of Intermestic Partners, I’ve seen firsthand how immigrants sustain critical systems, even when those systems shut them out. Their contributions are too often invisible—but the impact is undeniable.

Understanding the System

Social Security operates through payroll taxes—collected from workers and employers—to fund retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits. For most Americans, this is a guaranteed safety net.

But for millions of immigrants, particularly those undocumented, this safety net has a trapdoor.

The Immigrant Workforce: Paying Into a System They Can’t Access

Immigrants—many of them in essential sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and healthcare—make up nearly 17% of the U.S. workforce. A large share of them pay into Social Security through Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) or false SSNs, even though they cannot legally claim benefits.

According to the Social Security Administration, unauthorized immigrants contributed roughly $13 billion in payroll taxes in a single year, while only claiming about $1 billion in benefits. That leaves $12 billion unclaimed annually—not just in limbo, but propping up the system for others.

The SSA’s “Earnings Suspense File,” which holds unverified contributions, has ballooned to over $1.3 trillion—much of it linked to undocumented workers.

The Immigrants’ Perspective

Take the case of “Lupe,” a pseudonym for a Mexican immigrant who has lived and worked in the U.S. for nearly 20 years. She has consistently paid payroll taxes—contributing to a system she’s locked out of. There’s no path for her to reclaim what she’s earned.

For immigrants like Lupe, strategies like private savings or sending money to family back home are makeshift substitutes. But without systemic change, they remain vulnerable to old-age poverty, despite having fueled American prosperity for decades.

Why It Matters for Everyone

🇺🇸 For the U.S. Economy

Unclaimed immigrant contributions help extend the life of the Social Security Trust Fund, supporting benefits for millions of retirees.

💰 For Fiscal Sustainability

Immigrants subsidize the system without drawing from it. That’s a net fiscal gain—and a rare one.

🧑‍⚖️ For Fairness

A system that takes from working people but offers nothing in return violates basic economic justice.

What Needs to Change

• ✍️ Immigration Reform: A legal pathway to status could allow more immigrants to claim the benefits they fund.

• 🔎 Policy Transparency: Clear reporting on unclaimed contributions and their economic role.

• 💼 Inclusion-Oriented Finance: Offer voluntary retirement products for immigrants without legal status.

At Intermestic Partners, we’re advocating for economic frameworks where cross-border labor contributions are matched with cross-border security—not exclusion.

Conclusion: Dignity in Every Dollar

Every dollar paid into Social Security is a testament to work, hope, and belonging. When immigrants contribute to a system that denies them the same security, it reveals a contradiction we must confront.

The numbers are staggering—but the human cost is greater.

Let’s turn awareness into action. Let’s build a system that honors every contribution—with fairness, dignity, and long-overdue reform.

Ready to help reshape the conversation around immigration and economic equity? Join the work at Intermestic Partners.