Latest Fact-checks in Social Security Clear Any Rating True Mostly True Half True Mostly False False Pants on Fire Full Flop Half Flip No Flip Any Speaker Any Date Range Last 3 Months Last 6 Months Last 12 Months 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Any Category Marco Rubio stated on November 20, 2013 in a speech at American Enterprise Institute: "The reason we have a national debt is not because of defense spending. What is driving our long-term debt are Medicare and Social Security programs." Jay Leno stated on November 8, 2013 in a broadcast of the "Tonight Show": "Social Security took seven years before anybody got the first check." Bernie Sanders stated on September 25, 2013 in an MSNBC interview: "(Texas Republicans) believe in abolishing Social Security, abolishing V.A. health care." Democratic Party of Virginia stated on July 16, 2013 in a TV ad.: "In his book, (Ken) Cuccinelli questions whether Medicare and Social Security should exist." Todd Young stated on June 19, 2013 in a letter to a constituent: "Nearly 70 percent of all federal spending will go towards Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid" in fiscal year 2014. David Cicilline stated on May 12, 2013 in an interview on WPRI's Newsmakers program: Historically, the Social Security tax has been assessed on about 90% of U.S. income. Now it captures 83% because there's been such a growth of income among the highest earners. Marcy Kaptur stated on April 11, 2013 in House of Representatives floor speech : "The Social Security trust fund is sound. Without anything being done, it would function well into 2038; and even after that time with no changes, we could pay 80 percent of the benefits that people have earned." Mark Pocan stated on April 16, 2013 in an interview: "Not one dime gets added to the deficit because of Social Security." Rob Portman stated on April 9, 2013 in remarks at Politico breakfastt: "The Social Security disability fund is going belly up in 2016." Josh Mandel stated on February 11, 2013 in a letter to Ohio lawmakers: Federal spending on entitlements "is projected to consume all revenue by 2045." Paul Ryan stated on January 22, 2013 in interviews: On his definition of "takers" and "makers" Hank Johnson stated on December 18, 2012 in a twitter post: Social Security has nothing to do with the federal deficit. Marco Rubio stated on December 30, 2012 in in a tweet: "Report that #GOP insisting on changes to Social Security as part of #fiscalcliff false. BTW those changes are supported by @barackobama." Jeanne Shaheen stated on November 27, 2012 in an interview on MSNBC’s Jansing and Co. : Social Security has not contributed to the debt and the deficits. Workers' Voice stated on October 1, 2012 in a campaign flier: Says U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Thompson supports a plan for "privatizing Social Security." Bill Nelson stated on October 17, 2012 in a debate: Says Connie Mack’s Penny Plan would cut "over $200 billion out of Medicare, over $1 trillion out of Social Security. ... $3 trillion out of defense." Ann McLane Kuster stated on September 6, 2012 in an ad, “Janice,” released September 6, 2012: Says U.S. Rep. Charles Bass wants to privatize Social Security. Senior Citizens League stated on September 3, 2012 in mailer: " … if the Agreement goes into effect, the millions of Mexican citizens who will become eligible for Social Security benefits may have a far stronger claim to benefits and protection against cuts than U.S. citizens!" Joe Biden stated on September 28, 2012 in a campaign rally in Boca Raton, Fla.: "If Gov. Romney's plan goes into effect … the average senior would have to pay $460 a year more in tax for their Social Security." Scott DesJarlais stated on September 2, 2012 in an interview with The Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro: Defends his vote to push "retirement age to 70" by saying he is for "a process" that would not be fully implemented until "around the turn of the century." Joe Biden stated on September 2, 2012 in a speech: Says Republicans Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan support "massive cuts in Social Security for future generations." Bill Nelson stated on August 20, 2012 in remarks at a campaign event: Says Connie Mack IV co-sponsored a bill to "take a third of the Social Security Trust Fund ... give it in individual accounts to the senior citizens, who then were to invest it in the stock market." Barack Obama stated on August 20, 2012 in a radio ad: Says Paul Ryan "tried to change the whole game" for Social Security Sheldon Whitehouse stated on August 15, 2012 in a news release: "For Social Security, which is projected to remain solvent through 2033, Whitehouse has cosponsored [a bill that] . . . would extend the life of the program by an additional 75 years." David Cicilline stated on August 9, 2012 in a campaign flier: "(Brendan) Doherty wants to raise the eligibility age for Social Security benefits for anyone born after 1960, with no regard for the challenges it would cause for people working in physically demanding occupations." Peter DeFazio stated on July 30, 2012: Art Robinson says "Social Security should be ended through attrition." Allen West stated on August 1, 2012 in a radio interview: In June 2012 "we actually had more people go on Social Security Disability [85,000] ... than the 80,000 jobs that were created." Ann McLane Kuster stated on June 7, 2012 in a rally outside the N.H. Statehouse.: Says Rep. Charles Bass "supports privatizing Social Security, risking trillions more on Wall Street." E.W. Jackson stated on May 11, 2012 in a debate.: "In Galveston, Texas, they have allowed people to privatize part of their Social Security. And people are building wealth." Chain email stated on May 12, 2012 in a chain e-mail: Says President Barack Obama’s finance team is recommending a "1% tax on all transactions at any financial institution."
Clear Any Rating True Mostly True Half True Mostly False False Pants on Fire Full Flop Half Flip No Flip Any Speaker Any Date Range Last 3 Months Last 6 Months Last 12 Months 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Any Category
Marco Rubio stated on November 20, 2013 in a speech at American Enterprise Institute: "The reason we have a national debt is not because of defense spending. What is driving our long-term debt are Medicare and Social Security programs." Jay Leno stated on November 8, 2013 in a broadcast of the "Tonight Show": "Social Security took seven years before anybody got the first check." Bernie Sanders stated on September 25, 2013 in an MSNBC interview: "(Texas Republicans) believe in abolishing Social Security, abolishing V.A. health care." Democratic Party of Virginia stated on July 16, 2013 in a TV ad.: "In his book, (Ken) Cuccinelli questions whether Medicare and Social Security should exist." Todd Young stated on June 19, 2013 in a letter to a constituent: "Nearly 70 percent of all federal spending will go towards Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid" in fiscal year 2014. David Cicilline stated on May 12, 2013 in an interview on WPRI's Newsmakers program: Historically, the Social Security tax has been assessed on about 90% of U.S. income. Now it captures 83% because there's been such a growth of income among the highest earners. Marcy Kaptur stated on April 11, 2013 in House of Representatives floor speech : "The Social Security trust fund is sound. Without anything being done, it would function well into 2038; and even after that time with no changes, we could pay 80 percent of the benefits that people have earned." Mark Pocan stated on April 16, 2013 in an interview: "Not one dime gets added to the deficit because of Social Security." Rob Portman stated on April 9, 2013 in remarks at Politico breakfastt: "The Social Security disability fund is going belly up in 2016." Josh Mandel stated on February 11, 2013 in a letter to Ohio lawmakers: Federal spending on entitlements "is projected to consume all revenue by 2045." Paul Ryan stated on January 22, 2013 in interviews: On his definition of "takers" and "makers" Hank Johnson stated on December 18, 2012 in a twitter post: Social Security has nothing to do with the federal deficit. Marco Rubio stated on December 30, 2012 in in a tweet: "Report that #GOP insisting on changes to Social Security as part of #fiscalcliff false. BTW those changes are supported by @barackobama." Jeanne Shaheen stated on November 27, 2012 in an interview on MSNBC’s Jansing and Co. : Social Security has not contributed to the debt and the deficits. Workers' Voice stated on October 1, 2012 in a campaign flier: Says U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Thompson supports a plan for "privatizing Social Security." Bill Nelson stated on October 17, 2012 in a debate: Says Connie Mack’s Penny Plan would cut "over $200 billion out of Medicare, over $1 trillion out of Social Security. ... $3 trillion out of defense." Ann McLane Kuster stated on September 6, 2012 in an ad, “Janice,” released September 6, 2012: Says U.S. Rep. Charles Bass wants to privatize Social Security. Senior Citizens League stated on September 3, 2012 in mailer: " … if the Agreement goes into effect, the millions of Mexican citizens who will become eligible for Social Security benefits may have a far stronger claim to benefits and protection against cuts than U.S. citizens!" Joe Biden stated on September 28, 2012 in a campaign rally in Boca Raton, Fla.: "If Gov. Romney's plan goes into effect … the average senior would have to pay $460 a year more in tax for their Social Security." Scott DesJarlais stated on September 2, 2012 in an interview with The Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro: Defends his vote to push "retirement age to 70" by saying he is for "a process" that would not be fully implemented until "around the turn of the century." Joe Biden stated on September 2, 2012 in a speech: Says Republicans Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan support "massive cuts in Social Security for future generations." Bill Nelson stated on August 20, 2012 in remarks at a campaign event: Says Connie Mack IV co-sponsored a bill to "take a third of the Social Security Trust Fund ... give it in individual accounts to the senior citizens, who then were to invest it in the stock market." Barack Obama stated on August 20, 2012 in a radio ad: Says Paul Ryan "tried to change the whole game" for Social Security Sheldon Whitehouse stated on August 15, 2012 in a news release: "For Social Security, which is projected to remain solvent through 2033, Whitehouse has cosponsored [a bill that] . . . would extend the life of the program by an additional 75 years." David Cicilline stated on August 9, 2012 in a campaign flier: "(Brendan) Doherty wants to raise the eligibility age for Social Security benefits for anyone born after 1960, with no regard for the challenges it would cause for people working in physically demanding occupations." Peter DeFazio stated on July 30, 2012: Art Robinson says "Social Security should be ended through attrition." Allen West stated on August 1, 2012 in a radio interview: In June 2012 "we actually had more people go on Social Security Disability [85,000] ... than the 80,000 jobs that were created." Ann McLane Kuster stated on June 7, 2012 in a rally outside the N.H. Statehouse.: Says Rep. Charles Bass "supports privatizing Social Security, risking trillions more on Wall Street." E.W. Jackson stated on May 11, 2012 in a debate.: "In Galveston, Texas, they have allowed people to privatize part of their Social Security. And people are building wealth." Chain email stated on May 12, 2012 in a chain e-mail: Says President Barack Obama’s finance team is recommending a "1% tax on all transactions at any financial institution."
Marco Rubio stated on November 20, 2013 in a speech at American Enterprise Institute: "The reason we have a national debt is not because of defense spending. What is driving our long-term debt are Medicare and Social Security programs."
Jay Leno stated on November 8, 2013 in a broadcast of the "Tonight Show": "Social Security took seven years before anybody got the first check."
Bernie Sanders stated on September 25, 2013 in an MSNBC interview: "(Texas Republicans) believe in abolishing Social Security, abolishing V.A. health care."
Democratic Party of Virginia stated on July 16, 2013 in a TV ad.: "In his book, (Ken) Cuccinelli questions whether Medicare and Social Security should exist."
Todd Young stated on June 19, 2013 in a letter to a constituent: "Nearly 70 percent of all federal spending will go towards Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid" in fiscal year 2014.
David Cicilline stated on May 12, 2013 in an interview on WPRI's Newsmakers program: Historically, the Social Security tax has been assessed on about 90% of U.S. income. Now it captures 83% because there's been such a growth of income among the highest earners.
Marcy Kaptur stated on April 11, 2013 in House of Representatives floor speech : "The Social Security trust fund is sound. Without anything being done, it would function well into 2038; and even after that time with no changes, we could pay 80 percent of the benefits that people have earned."
Mark Pocan stated on April 16, 2013 in an interview: "Not one dime gets added to the deficit because of Social Security."
Rob Portman stated on April 9, 2013 in remarks at Politico breakfastt: "The Social Security disability fund is going belly up in 2016."
Josh Mandel stated on February 11, 2013 in a letter to Ohio lawmakers: Federal spending on entitlements "is projected to consume all revenue by 2045."
Hank Johnson stated on December 18, 2012 in a twitter post: Social Security has nothing to do with the federal deficit.
Marco Rubio stated on December 30, 2012 in in a tweet: "Report that #GOP insisting on changes to Social Security as part of #fiscalcliff false. BTW those changes are supported by @barackobama."
Jeanne Shaheen stated on November 27, 2012 in an interview on MSNBC’s Jansing and Co. : Social Security has not contributed to the debt and the deficits.
Workers' Voice stated on October 1, 2012 in a campaign flier: Says U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Thompson supports a plan for "privatizing Social Security."
Bill Nelson stated on October 17, 2012 in a debate: Says Connie Mack’s Penny Plan would cut "over $200 billion out of Medicare, over $1 trillion out of Social Security. ... $3 trillion out of defense."
Ann McLane Kuster stated on September 6, 2012 in an ad, “Janice,” released September 6, 2012: Says U.S. Rep. Charles Bass wants to privatize Social Security.
Senior Citizens League stated on September 3, 2012 in mailer: " … if the Agreement goes into effect, the millions of Mexican citizens who will become eligible for Social Security benefits may have a far stronger claim to benefits and protection against cuts than U.S. citizens!"
Joe Biden stated on September 28, 2012 in a campaign rally in Boca Raton, Fla.: "If Gov. Romney's plan goes into effect … the average senior would have to pay $460 a year more in tax for their Social Security."
Scott DesJarlais stated on September 2, 2012 in an interview with The Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro: Defends his vote to push "retirement age to 70" by saying he is for "a process" that would not be fully implemented until "around the turn of the century."
Joe Biden stated on September 2, 2012 in a speech: Says Republicans Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan support "massive cuts in Social Security for future generations."
Bill Nelson stated on August 20, 2012 in remarks at a campaign event: Says Connie Mack IV co-sponsored a bill to "take a third of the Social Security Trust Fund ... give it in individual accounts to the senior citizens, who then were to invest it in the stock market."
Barack Obama stated on August 20, 2012 in a radio ad: Says Paul Ryan "tried to change the whole game" for Social Security
Sheldon Whitehouse stated on August 15, 2012 in a news release: "For Social Security, which is projected to remain solvent through 2033, Whitehouse has cosponsored [a bill that] . . . would extend the life of the program by an additional 75 years."
David Cicilline stated on August 9, 2012 in a campaign flier: "(Brendan) Doherty wants to raise the eligibility age for Social Security benefits for anyone born after 1960, with no regard for the challenges it would cause for people working in physically demanding occupations."
Peter DeFazio stated on July 30, 2012: Art Robinson says "Social Security should be ended through attrition."
Allen West stated on August 1, 2012 in a radio interview: In June 2012 "we actually had more people go on Social Security Disability [85,000] ... than the 80,000 jobs that were created."
Ann McLane Kuster stated on June 7, 2012 in a rally outside the N.H. Statehouse.: Says Rep. Charles Bass "supports privatizing Social Security, risking trillions more on Wall Street."
E.W. Jackson stated on May 11, 2012 in a debate.: "In Galveston, Texas, they have allowed people to privatize part of their Social Security. And people are building wealth."
Chain email stated on May 12, 2012 in a chain e-mail: Says President Barack Obama’s finance team is recommending a "1% tax on all transactions at any financial institution."
