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 John Boehner stated on September 19, 2011 in a television interview: "We have 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day." Rick Perry stated on September 22, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Orlando: Says he never said he wanted to move Social Security "back to the states." Rick Perry stated on September 12, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Tampa, Florida.: Says Mitt Romney wrote that if Social Security was done "in the private sector, it would be called criminal." Rachel Maddow stated on September 19, 2011 in on "The Rachel Maddow Show": "Poverty among Americans 65 and over is statistically unchanged" in recent years because of Social Security. Herman Cain stated on September 12, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate: "Today, when people retire in Galveston County, Texas, they retire making at least 50 percent more than they would ever get out of Social Security." Mitt Romney stated on September 12, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate: Says that in his book, Rick Perry said that "Social Security is unconstitutional." Rick Perry stated on September 12, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate: Social Security is a "Ponzi scheme." Mitt Romney stated on September 12, 2011 in the CNN-Tea Party Express debate in Tampa: "In writing his book, Gov. Perry pointed out that … by any measure Social Security has been a failure." Ed Schultz stated on August 25, 2011 in MSNBC's the "Ed Show," Aug. 25, 2011: "In (Sen. Marco) Rubio's state of Florida alone, Social Security lifts more than -- count it -- a million people out of poverty." Margaret Carlson stated on August 9, 2011 in a politics column.: Rick Perry "has advocated abandoning Social Security, scuttling Medicaid and ending the federal income tax." Marco Rubio stated on August 23, 2011 in a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: "When Social Security first started, there was 16 workers for every retiree. Today there are three workers for every retiree and soon there will be only two for every retiree." Barry Hinckley stated on July 24, 2011 in an appearance on Channel 6: "There's no money in Social Security." Alliance for Retired Americans stated on July 12, 2011 in an email blast: "Social Security doesn’t contribute a penny to the deficit." Dennis Kucinich stated on July 15, 2011 in a speech in the House of Representatives: "Social Security didn’t cause the debt crisis. Social Security had nothing to do with the debt crisis." Barack Obama stated on July 12, 2011 in an interview with CBS News: Social Security and other federal checks may not go out on Aug. 3 if the debt ceiling is not increased. Newt Gingrich stated on June 15, 2011 in in an interview on the “The Neal Boortz Radio Show” on Atlanta’s AM 750 and 95.5 FM : Every 10th dollar spent by the Social Security Administration on its program for the poor is "waste, or fraud, they can’t validate that the people should have gotten it," totaling about $8 billion a year. Herman Cain stated on June 13, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate: Says an alternative to Social Security that operates in Galveston County, Texas, has meant that participants will "retire with a whole lot more money" than under Social Security. Rick Santorum stated on June 12, 2011 in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press": "The cost-of-living increase in Social Security is tied to wage inflation." Scott Rigell stated on June 3, 2011 in a newsletter.: "The (national) debt really added up $75 trillion in 2010 and is on track to hit $99 trillion this year." Chain email stated on May 16, 2011 in a message via the Internet: Members of Congress "receive full pay retirement after serving one term." Scott Fitzgerald stated on May 21, 2011 in a speech at the state GOP convention: One of every two Wisconsin residents are "on some kind of government handout." Amy Kremer stated on May 17, 2011 in an interview on "The Colbert Report": "We bring in enough tax revenue to service our debt, pay for Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, and then still have about $300 (billion) or $400 billion left over." David Stockman stated on May 1, 2011 in an interview on 'This Week with Christiane Amanpour': Rep. Paul Ryan's budget proposal cuts "nothing" from Medicare, Social Security or defense in the next two to three years, and "in three years, he does not cut one dime from the debt." Eric Cantor stated on April 27, 2011 in a TV appearance.: "You’ve got each day 10,000 new seniors, baby boomers, becoming eligible for the entitlement programs." Campaign for America's Future stated on April 8, 2011 in a TV ad.: Says "Congressman Eric Cantor wants to eliminate Social Security." Americans United for Change stated on March 31, 2011 in a news release.: Says Majority Leader Eric Cantor called for "abolishing Social Security and Medicare." Rick Santorum stated on March 29, 2011 in a radio interview: "A third of all the young people in America are not in America today because of abortion, because one in three pregnancies end in abortion." Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee stated on February 22, 2011 in a news release: In slashing $1.7 billion from Social Security, "Rep. Jim Renacci may end up forcing the entire agency to ... shut down for a month, causing seniors to not get their benefits on time, halting claims processing, and forcing new retirees and disabled workers into a backlog." Rick Scott stated on February 23, 2011 in comments to employees at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.: Says Florida's pension plan faces the same long-term funding problems as Social Security. Barack Obama stated on February 15, 2011 in a press conference: If there’s a government shutdown, "people don’t get their Social Security checks."
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
John Boehner stated on September 19, 2011 in a television interview: "We have 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day." Rick Perry stated on September 22, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Orlando: Says he never said he wanted to move Social Security "back to the states." Rick Perry stated on September 12, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Tampa, Florida.: Says Mitt Romney wrote that if Social Security was done "in the private sector, it would be called criminal." Rachel Maddow stated on September 19, 2011 in on "The Rachel Maddow Show": "Poverty among Americans 65 and over is statistically unchanged" in recent years because of Social Security. Herman Cain stated on September 12, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate: "Today, when people retire in Galveston County, Texas, they retire making at least 50 percent more than they would ever get out of Social Security." Mitt Romney stated on September 12, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate: Says that in his book, Rick Perry said that "Social Security is unconstitutional." Rick Perry stated on September 12, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate: Social Security is a "Ponzi scheme." Mitt Romney stated on September 12, 2011 in the CNN-Tea Party Express debate in Tampa: "In writing his book, Gov. Perry pointed out that … by any measure Social Security has been a failure." Ed Schultz stated on August 25, 2011 in MSNBC's the "Ed Show," Aug. 25, 2011: "In (Sen. Marco) Rubio's state of Florida alone, Social Security lifts more than -- count it -- a million people out of poverty." Margaret Carlson stated on August 9, 2011 in a politics column.: Rick Perry "has advocated abandoning Social Security, scuttling Medicaid and ending the federal income tax." Marco Rubio stated on August 23, 2011 in a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: "When Social Security first started, there was 16 workers for every retiree. Today there are three workers for every retiree and soon there will be only two for every retiree." Barry Hinckley stated on July 24, 2011 in an appearance on Channel 6: "There's no money in Social Security." Alliance for Retired Americans stated on July 12, 2011 in an email blast: "Social Security doesn’t contribute a penny to the deficit." Dennis Kucinich stated on July 15, 2011 in a speech in the House of Representatives: "Social Security didn’t cause the debt crisis. Social Security had nothing to do with the debt crisis." Barack Obama stated on July 12, 2011 in an interview with CBS News: Social Security and other federal checks may not go out on Aug. 3 if the debt ceiling is not increased. Newt Gingrich stated on June 15, 2011 in in an interview on the “The Neal Boortz Radio Show” on Atlanta’s AM 750 and 95.5 FM : Every 10th dollar spent by the Social Security Administration on its program for the poor is "waste, or fraud, they can’t validate that the people should have gotten it," totaling about $8 billion a year. Herman Cain stated on June 13, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate: Says an alternative to Social Security that operates in Galveston County, Texas, has meant that participants will "retire with a whole lot more money" than under Social Security. Rick Santorum stated on June 12, 2011 in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press": "The cost-of-living increase in Social Security is tied to wage inflation." Scott Rigell stated on June 3, 2011 in a newsletter.: "The (national) debt really added up $75 trillion in 2010 and is on track to hit $99 trillion this year." Chain email stated on May 16, 2011 in a message via the Internet: Members of Congress "receive full pay retirement after serving one term." Scott Fitzgerald stated on May 21, 2011 in a speech at the state GOP convention: One of every two Wisconsin residents are "on some kind of government handout." Amy Kremer stated on May 17, 2011 in an interview on "The Colbert Report": "We bring in enough tax revenue to service our debt, pay for Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, and then still have about $300 (billion) or $400 billion left over." David Stockman stated on May 1, 2011 in an interview on 'This Week with Christiane Amanpour': Rep. Paul Ryan's budget proposal cuts "nothing" from Medicare, Social Security or defense in the next two to three years, and "in three years, he does not cut one dime from the debt." Eric Cantor stated on April 27, 2011 in a TV appearance.: "You’ve got each day 10,000 new seniors, baby boomers, becoming eligible for the entitlement programs." Campaign for America's Future stated on April 8, 2011 in a TV ad.: Says "Congressman Eric Cantor wants to eliminate Social Security." Americans United for Change stated on March 31, 2011 in a news release.: Says Majority Leader Eric Cantor called for "abolishing Social Security and Medicare." Rick Santorum stated on March 29, 2011 in a radio interview: "A third of all the young people in America are not in America today because of abortion, because one in three pregnancies end in abortion." Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee stated on February 22, 2011 in a news release: In slashing $1.7 billion from Social Security, "Rep. Jim Renacci may end up forcing the entire agency to ... shut down for a month, causing seniors to not get their benefits on time, halting claims processing, and forcing new retirees and disabled workers into a backlog." Rick Scott stated on February 23, 2011 in comments to employees at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.: Says Florida's pension plan faces the same long-term funding problems as Social Security. Barack Obama stated on February 15, 2011 in a press conference: If there’s a government shutdown, "people don’t get their Social Security checks."
John Boehner stated on September 19, 2011 in a television interview: "We have 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day."
Rick Perry stated on September 22, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Orlando: Says he never said he wanted to move Social Security "back to the states."
Rick Perry stated on September 12, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate in Tampa, Florida.: Says Mitt Romney wrote that if Social Security was done "in the private sector, it would be called criminal."
Rachel Maddow stated on September 19, 2011 in on "The Rachel Maddow Show": "Poverty among Americans 65 and over is statistically unchanged" in recent years because of Social Security.
Herman Cain stated on September 12, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate: "Today, when people retire in Galveston County, Texas, they retire making at least 50 percent more than they would ever get out of Social Security."
Mitt Romney stated on September 12, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate: Says that in his book, Rick Perry said that "Social Security is unconstitutional."
Rick Perry stated on September 12, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate: Social Security is a "Ponzi scheme."
Mitt Romney stated on September 12, 2011 in the CNN-Tea Party Express debate in Tampa: "In writing his book, Gov. Perry pointed out that … by any measure Social Security has been a failure."
Ed Schultz stated on August 25, 2011 in MSNBC's the "Ed Show," Aug. 25, 2011: "In (Sen. Marco) Rubio's state of Florida alone, Social Security lifts more than -- count it -- a million people out of poverty."
Margaret Carlson stated on August 9, 2011 in a politics column.: Rick Perry "has advocated abandoning Social Security, scuttling Medicaid and ending the federal income tax."
Marco Rubio stated on August 23, 2011 in a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: "When Social Security first started, there was 16 workers for every retiree. Today there are three workers for every retiree and soon there will be only two for every retiree."
Barry Hinckley stated on July 24, 2011 in an appearance on Channel 6: "There's no money in Social Security."
Alliance for Retired Americans stated on July 12, 2011 in an email blast: "Social Security doesn’t contribute a penny to the deficit."
Dennis Kucinich stated on July 15, 2011 in a speech in the House of Representatives: "Social Security didn’t cause the debt crisis. Social Security had nothing to do with the debt crisis."
Barack Obama stated on July 12, 2011 in an interview with CBS News: Social Security and other federal checks may not go out on Aug. 3 if the debt ceiling is not increased.
Newt Gingrich stated on June 15, 2011 in in an interview on the “The Neal Boortz Radio Show” on Atlanta’s AM 750 and 95.5 FM : Every 10th dollar spent by the Social Security Administration on its program for the poor is "waste, or fraud, they can’t validate that the people should have gotten it," totaling about $8 billion a year.
Herman Cain stated on June 13, 2011 in a Republican presidential debate: Says an alternative to Social Security that operates in Galveston County, Texas, has meant that participants will "retire with a whole lot more money" than under Social Security.
Rick Santorum stated on June 12, 2011 in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press": "The cost-of-living increase in Social Security is tied to wage inflation."
Scott Rigell stated on June 3, 2011 in a newsletter.: "The (national) debt really added up $75 trillion in 2010 and is on track to hit $99 trillion this year."
Chain email stated on May 16, 2011 in a message via the Internet: Members of Congress "receive full pay retirement after serving one term."
Scott Fitzgerald stated on May 21, 2011 in a speech at the state GOP convention: One of every two Wisconsin residents are "on some kind of government handout."
Amy Kremer stated on May 17, 2011 in an interview on "The Colbert Report": "We bring in enough tax revenue to service our debt, pay for Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, and then still have about $300 (billion) or $400 billion left over."
David Stockman stated on May 1, 2011 in an interview on 'This Week with Christiane Amanpour': Rep. Paul Ryan's budget proposal cuts "nothing" from Medicare, Social Security or defense in the next two to three years, and "in three years, he does not cut one dime from the debt."
Eric Cantor stated on April 27, 2011 in a TV appearance.: "You’ve got each day 10,000 new seniors, baby boomers, becoming eligible for the entitlement programs."
Campaign for America's Future stated on April 8, 2011 in a TV ad.: Says "Congressman Eric Cantor wants to eliminate Social Security."
Americans United for Change stated on March 31, 2011 in a news release.: Says Majority Leader Eric Cantor called for "abolishing Social Security and Medicare."
Rick Santorum stated on March 29, 2011 in a radio interview: "A third of all the young people in America are not in America today because of abortion, because one in three pregnancies end in abortion."
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee stated on February 22, 2011 in a news release: In slashing $1.7 billion from Social Security, "Rep. Jim Renacci may end up forcing the entire agency to ... shut down for a month, causing seniors to not get their benefits on time, halting claims processing, and forcing new retirees and disabled workers into a backlog."
Rick Scott stated on February 23, 2011 in comments to employees at the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.: Says Florida's pension plan faces the same long-term funding problems as Social Security.
Barack Obama stated on February 15, 2011 in a press conference: If there’s a government shutdown, "people don’t get their Social Security checks."
