WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama won't push Social Security benefits cuts in his State of the Union address Tuesday, The Washington Post reported Monday.

The newspaper said the White House passed the word to Democratic lawmakers and advocates for seniors during the weekend that raising the retirement age and other benefit reductions are not part of Obama's plan for reducing the federal deficit.

Trimming Social Security costs was among the recommendations made by the president's deficit commission. Liberals welcomed the report on Obama's stance.

"Most of us would like to see the Democrats remain the strong defenders of Social Security, which they have to be if they want to win the next election," said Roger Hickey of the liberal Campaign for America's Future.

Administration officials said it is unlikely Obama will specifically promote any of the deficit commission's recommendations in his speech to Congress and the nation. Still, he probably won't place Social Security off-limits, either, the Post said.

The newspaper's congressional sources said Obama is likely to encourage a bipartisan approach by Congress to ensure Social Security remains solvent, without laying out how to accomplish that goal.

Republican leaders have said they believe Social Security reform is necessary, though House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., says those closing in on retirement should not be expected to take a hit.

"Anyone 55 and older in this country has got to know that their Social Security benefits will not be addressed -- will not be changed," Cantor said. "It is for all of the younger people -- those 54 and younger -- we're going to have to have a serious discussion."

Robert L. Bixby of the non-profit Concord Coalition said the deficit commission's proposals for dealing with Social Security came as no surprise.

"The options they recommended are perfectly reasonable and balanced," Bixby said. "If the president wasn't willing to embrace these sort of changes, he shouldn't have appointed a commission to find solutions. What did he expect?"