Recent claims have circulated regarding whether checks are being sent to those who have died. Here’s what we found.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There has been recent confusion surrounding Social Security benefits with rumors emerging payments may be sent to millions of individuals who have already died.
While some improper payments have been made, the numbers shared by President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk may misrepresent data from Social Security. The two made the claims on social media and in recent press briefings.
Let’s verify.
OUR SOURCES:
WHAT WE FOUND:
In a recent statement, Lee Dudek, the newly appointed head of the Social Security Administration (SSA), denied the notion Social Security benefits were being sent to deceased Americans.
According to the SSA, Social Security benefits are available to workers who are 62 or older, or to those who are disabled or blind. Eligibility also depends on having enough work credits, which vary depending on age and the length of time a person has worked. Spouses and children of eligible workers may also qualify for benefits if they meet specific qualifications.
Part of the confusion surrounding the issue stems from a flaw in Social Security’s software systems. The SSA’s records management system has been plagued by a lack of data compatibility, which results in some records displaying inaccurate birthdates. In some cases, this can cause individuals’ ages to be reported as more than 150 years old.
“Their computer systems are antiquated, and as a result, information from one area was not feeding over to another area,” Mauney explained. “That didn’t mean that people were actually getting a check. It just means that if you were to go to that particular database, you might see people with some ages that are being counted from way back when they should have been cut off at the year 2000.”
Investigations have already been underway to address these discrepancies. A 2023 audit by the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General revealed that 18.9 million Social Security number holders born in 1920 or earlier were not marked as deceased in the agency’s records. Additionally, the U.S. Treasury Department reported it had successfully stopped and recovered more than $31 million in improper Social Security payments to dead people.
The Treasury projects that it will recover more than $215 million during its three-year access period.
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.