Sanders vows $2,400 Social Security raise; Cassidy tells him to 'do the math'

Four days after Democrats won control of Congress, Sen. Bernie Sanders said on Saturday, Nov. 7, that one of his top priorities will be raising Social Security benefits by at least $2,400 a year. He expects to take over the Senate's Social Security subcommittee in January ¹. He would pay for the increase by lifting the cap on wages that are taxed to fund the program. Right now the cap is $184,500 ¹⁴.

By Monday, Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, had answered on X, the social media site formerly called Twitter. He told Sanders to do the math ³. Their exchange is an early look at the Social Security fight coming to the new Congress, which starts in January.

What Sanders is proposing

In a Nov. 5 opinion piece, Sanders laid out the plan. The Social Security payroll tax would apply to all income above $250,000, including capital gains and dividends. That money would pay for higher benefits, larger yearly cost-of-living adjustments (the annual raise known as the COLA) and a program that stays solvent for generations ².

we could increase benefits by $2,400 a year, lift millions of seniors out of poverty

Sanders wrote that the plan would work "without raising taxes on the bottom 91% of Americans." ² When he and Sen. Elizabeth Warren filed the Social Security Expansion Act on Feb. 27, 2025, his office said households earning $250,000 or less would not pay more ⁶. The bill would also raise the special minimum benefit for low-wage workers and restore student benefits up to age 22 for children of disabled or deceased workers ⁶.

From Channel GOPBernie Sanders after Democrats win CongressBernie Sanders · 146 plays · captioned, with the source named

The sponsors say the bill would keep Social Security fully funded for 75 years. They base that on a Social Security Administration analysis Sanders asked for in 2023 ⁶.

our job is not to cut Social Security as many of our Republican colleagues want to do

Cassidy's objection

In his Nov. 9 post, Cassidy argued that the plan would put the full combined 12.4% Social Security payroll tax on people "a long way from being millionaires or billionaires." ³ That 12.4% is split evenly: 6.2% from the worker and 6.2% from the employer ³. To make his point, Cassidy described a married couple who both work as intensive care nurses. He also added in the 14% tax he estimates Medicare for All would need ³.

Do the math.

Here is the receipt. Sanders' own materials say the new tax would hit only income above $250,000 ²⁶. Whether Cassidy's nurse couple would pay more depends on how much each of them earns, and his post as reported does not settle that ³.

Cassidy has his own plan. With Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, he has proposed a $1.5 trillion fund, paid for with Treasury borrowing, that would be invested in stocks and other riskier assets over 75 years ⁷. Even Cassidy projects it would cover only about two-thirds of the gap. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a budget watchdog group, called it a "dangerous, debt-funded gamble." ⁷

Marc Goldwein of that same group said taxing high incomes could close about half of Social Security's funding shortfall. He questioned whether it would also pay for the full benefit increase ³. By an earlier estimate from Social Security's own actuaries, scrapping the cap in 2027 without raising benefits would close about 58% of the 75-year gap ⁴.

Why the clock matters

The trust fund that pays retirement benefits is projected to run dry in late 2032. After that, incoming payroll taxes would cover only about 78% of scheduled benefits ⁴. The average retired worker gets $2,071 a month. A 22% cut would take away about $456 of that every month ⁵.

Advocates who backed Democrats this fall say voters sent a message. Nancy Altman, executive director of the advocacy group Social Security Works, said Social Security was on the ballot and the result was "resoundingly clear: Hands off our earned benefits!" ¹

lawmakers should vote on legislation that expands benefits with no cuts.

The hard math in Congress

Social Security changes will probably need 60 votes in the Senate, which means support from both parties ⁴. President Trump has said he has a "strong veto," and overriding a veto takes two-thirds of the members voting in each chamber ⁵. Neither Sanders' bill nor the Social Security 2100 Act, another Democratic bill that would raise benefits partly by eliminating the tax cap, has passed ⁵.

Several Democrats elected Nov. 3 support some version of lifting the cap, including Juliana Stratton of Illinois, Josh Turek of Iowa and James Talarico of Texas ⁴. Incoming Republican senators have named few specifics. Kentucky's Andy Barr opposes changes for current retirees, and Montana's Kurt Alme says savings from cutting waste and fraud should go to the program ⁴.

That matters because a Democratic majority can now hold hearings and votes on raising benefits, not just on cutting them. With a likely filibuster and Trump's veto threat, though, the 2032 deadline is still the date to watch.

The Record

1. Feb 27, 2025Sanders, Warren and House Democrats introduce the Social Security Expansion Act, which would raise benefits by $2,400 a year by taxing income above $250,000 ⁶.
2. Aug 27, 2026Cassidy promotes a $1.5 trillion borrowed 'Save Our Seniors Fund' with Sen. Tim Kaine; a budget watchdog calls it a 'dangerous, debt-funded gamble' ⁷.
3. Nov 3, 2026Democrats win control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections ⁵.
4. Nov 7, 2026Sanders says raising benefits by at least $2,400 a year and lifting the $184,500 tax cap will be top priorities when he takes over the Social Security subcommittee in January ¹.
5. Nov 9, 2026Cassidy answers Sanders on X with 'Do the math,' arguing the plan would tax people far from rich ³.

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<h2>Sanders vows $2,400 Social Security raise; Cassidy tells him to &#39;do the math&#39;</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Kitchen-Table Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/sanders-vows-2-400-social-security-raise-cassidy-tells-him-to-do-the-math">The GOP Files</a> on Monday, November 9, 2026.</em></p> <p>Four days after Democrats won control of Congress, Sen. Bernie Sanders said on Saturday, Nov. 7, that one of his top priorities will be raising Social Security benefits by at least $2,400 a year. He expects to take over the Senate&#39;s Social Security subcommittee in January . He would pay for the increase by lifting the cap on wages that are taxed to fund the program. Right now the cap is $184,500 .</p> <p>By Monday, Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, had answered on X, the social media site formerly called Twitter. He told Sanders to do the math . Their exchange is an early look at the Social Security fight coming to the new Congress, which starts in January.</p> <h2>What Sanders is proposing</h2> <p>In a Nov. 5 opinion piece, Sanders laid out the plan. The Social Security payroll tax would apply to all income above $250,000, including capital gains and dividends. That money would pay for higher benefits, larger yearly cost-of-living adjustments (the annual raise known as the COLA) and a program that stays solvent for generations .</p> <blockquote><p>we could increase benefits by $2,400 a year, lift millions of seniors out of poverty</p><p>&mdash; Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator, I-Vermont</p></blockquote> <p>Sanders wrote that the plan would work &quot;without raising taxes on the bottom 91% of Americans.&quot; When he and Sen. Elizabeth Warren filed the Social Security Expansion Act on Feb. 27, 2025, his office said households earning $250,000 or less would not pay more . The bill would also raise the special minimum benefit for low-wage workers and restore student benefits up to age 22 for children of disabled or deceased workers .</p> <p>The sponsors say the bill would keep Social Security fully funded for 75 years. They base that on a Social Security Administration analysis Sanders asked for in 2023 .</p> <blockquote><p>our job is not to cut Social Security as many of our Republican colleagues want to do</p><p>&mdash; Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator, I-Vermont</p></blockquote> <h2>Cassidy&#39;s objection</h2> <p>In his Nov. 9 post, Cassidy argued that the plan would put the full combined 12.4% Social Security payroll tax on people &quot;a long way from being millionaires or billionaires.&quot; That 12.4% is split evenly: 6.2% from the worker and 6.2% from the employer . To make his point, Cassidy described a married couple who both work as intensive care nurses. He also added in the 14% tax he estimates Medicare for All would need .</p> <blockquote><p>Do the math.</p><p>&mdash; Bill Cassidy, U.S. senator, R-Louisiana</p></blockquote> <p>Here is the receipt. Sanders&#39; own materials say the new tax would hit only income above $250,000 . Whether Cassidy&#39;s nurse couple would pay more depends on how much each of them earns, and his post as reported does not settle that .</p> <p>Cassidy has his own plan. With Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, he has proposed a $1.5 trillion fund, paid for with Treasury borrowing, that would be invested in stocks and other riskier assets over 75 years . Even Cassidy projects it would cover only about two-thirds of the gap. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a budget watchdog group, called it a &quot;dangerous, debt-funded gamble.&quot;</p> <p>Marc Goldwein of that same group said taxing high incomes could close about half of Social Security&#39;s funding shortfall. He questioned whether it would also pay for the full benefit increase . By an earlier estimate from Social Security&#39;s own actuaries, scrapping the cap in 2027 without raising benefits would close about 58% of the 75-year gap .</p> <h2>Why the clock matters</h2> <p>The trust fund that pays retirement benefits is projected to run dry in late 2032. After that, incoming payroll taxes would cover only about 78% of scheduled benefits . The average retired worker gets $2,071 a month. A 22% cut would take away about $456 of that every month .</p> <p>Advocates who backed Democrats this fall say voters sent a message. Nancy Altman, executive director of the advocacy group Social Security Works, said Social Security was on the ballot and the result was &quot;resoundingly clear: Hands off our earned benefits!&quot;</p> <blockquote><p>lawmakers should vote on legislation that expands benefits with no cuts.</p><p>&mdash; Nancy Altman, executive director, Social Security Works</p></blockquote> <h2>The hard math in Congress</h2> <p>Social Security changes will probably need 60 votes in the Senate, which means support from both parties . President Trump has said he has a &quot;strong veto,&quot; and overriding a veto takes two-thirds of the members voting in each chamber . Neither Sanders&#39; bill nor the Social Security 2100 Act, another Democratic bill that would raise benefits partly by eliminating the tax cap, has passed .</p> <p>Several Democrats elected Nov. 3 support some version of lifting the cap, including Juliana Stratton of Illinois, Josh Turek of Iowa and James Talarico of Texas . Incoming Republican senators have named few specifics. Kentucky&#39;s Andy Barr opposes changes for current retirees, and Montana&#39;s Kurt Alme says savings from cutting waste and fraud should go to the program .</p> <p>That matters because a Democratic majority can now hold hearings and votes on raising benefits, not just on cutting them. With a likely filibuster and Trump&#39;s veto threat, though, the 2032 deadline is still the date to watch.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/sanders-vows-2-400-social-security-raise-cassidy-tells-him-to-do-the-math">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/sanders-vows-2-400-social-security-raise-cassidy-tells-him-to-do-the-math.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. Common Dreams, “Bernie Sanders: Increasing Social Security Payments by $2400 Next Year a Top Priority” (2026-11-07). commondreams.org/news/increase-social-security-by-2400
2. Common Dreams (opinion by Sen. Bernie Sanders), “Sanders op-ed on what Democrats must do after the midterms” (2026-11-05). commondreams.org/opinion/bernie-sanders-what-we-must-do
3. Benzinga (via TradingView), “Bill Cassidy Tells Bernie Sanders to 'Do The Math' on Social Security Tax Plan, Warns of Middle-Class Tax Hit” (2026-11-09). tradingview.com/news/benzinga:a7a94f025094b:0-bill-cassidy-t
4. Fortune, “Where incoming senators stand on Social Security reform” (2026-11-07). fortune.com/2026/11/07/social-security-reform-new-senators-2
5. Money Talks News, “Bernie Sanders Wants to Add $200 a Month to Your Social Security. I'm a CPA — Your Check Could Shrink Instead” (2026-11-05). moneytalksnews.com/bernie-sanders-wants-to-add-a-month-to-yo
6. Office of Sen. Bernie Sanders, “Press release: Sanders, Warren, Schakowsky, Hoyle introduce the Social Security Expansion Act” (2025-02-27). sanders.senate.gov/?p=97448
7. Fortune, “Cassidy on Social Security and tough votes” (2026-08-27). fortune.com/2026/08/27/cassidy-social-security-tough-vote-qu

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