Former Michigan Representative Mike Rogers has claimed that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will abolish Social Security taxes, but this is not an accurate description of the law’s impact.
Rogers, who served in Congress from 1995 to 2015, unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 2024 and plans to run again in the upcoming year.
In a statement dated July 3, Rogers remarked on the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, asserting, “President Trump and Republicans just delivered a monumental victory for hard working families across the country–including eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security.” His comments were made in a statement issued to celebrate the bill’s enactment.
Rogers reiterated these views during a radio interview on the Justin Barclay Show on July 10, stating, “It took care of working people. No tax on tips and no tax on overtime, no tax on Social Security. I mean, these are really important things that are going to impact Michiganders right around their kitchen table.”
Currently, Social Security benefits are taxed based on overall income levels. While the new law does not eliminate these taxes, it introduces additional deductions for seniors: $6,000 for individuals and $12,000 for couples, which phase out as income increases beyond $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples. These adjustments are temporary, set to expire by the end of 2028.
The Social Security Administration (SSA), in a July 3 press release, supported Rogers’ statement, suggesting the law could eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits for 90% of recipients. However, Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, countered this claim in a CNBC interview, saying, “The people who benefit the most, we estimate, are people who made between $50,000 and $200,000.” He clarified that these individuals would experience reduced taxes but not a complete tax elimination.
The legislation also reduces payroll taxes, which primarily fund the Social Security program, potentially threatening its future stability, according to Gleckman.
Additionally, the law poses risks to other senior support programs. The Congressional Budget Office projects that the legislation will result in 11.8 million Americans losing Medicaid and 3.2 million losing SNAP benefits.
Currently, around 9.4 million seniors are part of Medicaid, with 4.8 million receiving SNAP benefits.
State Senator Mallory McMorrow, a Democratic contender for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, issued a statement presenting a contrasting view to Rogers’. She stated, “Here in Michigan, hundreds of thousands will lose health care. Rural hospitals may close. Nursing homes may close. Farmers, grocery stores will be devastated by cuts to SNAP.”
According to The Cook Political Report, which assesses the competitiveness of federal elections, Michigan’s 2026 U.S. Senate race is currently classified as a “toss-up.”
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