Social Security Chief: Millions of Deceased Individuals in Records ‘Not Necessarily Collecting Benefits’
Outdated records are not definitive proof of fraudulent Social Security payments made to deceased individuals, according to the new chief of the SSA.
On Wednesday, the newly appointed head of the Social Security Administration (SSA) responded to circulating rumors suggesting that millions of individuals over 100 who have passed away may still be receiving Social Security benefits, stating that these claims are likely overstated.
Dudek expressed a desire to “recognize the recent reports regarding the number of people over the age of 100 who might be receiving Social Security benefits,” emphasizing that the “reported figures are individuals in our records who possess a Social Security number but lack an associated date of death.”
“This does not necessarily mean these individuals are receiving benefits,” Dudek stated while expressing trust in the audits performed by DOGE, the entity Trump has designated to investigate fraud, waste, and abuse in government expenditures.
“I am confident that with DOGE’s assistance and the dedication of our executive team and workforce, Social Security will continue to serve the American public effectively,” Dudek noted.
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The president commented that if all those millions of individuals were removed from Social Security, the program would suddenly appear much more robust, relying on the population between 70 and 90 years old, instead of those marked as 200 years old.
“It’s a very positive step” that DOGE has highlighted this potential concern, Trump stated. “We are working on it.”
Musk also shared similar concerns online.
Leavitt, in an appearance on Fox News, noted that Musk and DOGE have been collaborating to investigate fraudulent activities within the SSA. “They haven’t delved into the financial records yet, but they suspect that there are tens of millions of deceased persons receiving fraudulent Social Security payments,” she remarked.
The issues regarding outdated records are not new. The SSA’s Office of the Inspector General has indicated the existence of inactive Social Security numbers and stressed that these records do not necessarily imply that fraudulent payments are being made.
The SSA ultimately opted against updating the database due to the projected costs, which were estimated to exceed $9 million. Furthermore, since September 2015, SSA policy has automatically suspended payments to anyone older than 115 years.
The scope of improper Social Security payments remains unclear.
