Social Security Addressing Aged Records
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: March 5, 2025
The Social Security Administration (SSA) today shared its significant progress in identifying and correcting beneficiary records of people 100 years old or older. The data reported in the media represent people who do not have a date of death associated with their record. While these people may not be receiving benefits, it is important for the agency to maintain accurate and complete records.
“I thank President Trump for highlighting these inconsistencies during his speech last night to a joint session of Congress,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “We are steadfast in our commitment to root out fraud, waste, and abuse in our programs, and actively correcting the inconsistencies with missing dates of death.”
The agency follows long established program integrity initiatives that identify people who have a higher likelihood of being deceased due to their age or incomplete death reports. For example, SSA receives data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of individuals who have not used Medicare Part A or Part B for three or more years. SSA uses the data as an indicator to select and prioritize cases of individuals age 90 or older, who are currently in pay status and living in the United States, to determine continued eligibility for Social Security benefits. The agency attempts to conduct an interview with these individuals to verify they are still alive. If the agency identifies someone is deceased, it immediately stops payment and reports any suspicions of fraud to SSA’s Office of the Inspector General.
Did you find this Information helpful?
About the Author
Social Security Administration
Social Security Administration
Comments
Leave a Comment
Please review our Comment Policy before leaving a comment. For your safety, please do not post Personally Identifiable Information (such as your Social Security Number, address, phone number, email address, bank account number, or birthdate) on our blog.
Martha M.
Concerning the medicaid program, many of us senior citizens living under the poverty level and getting only $ 23.00 monthly is not sufficient.Please investigate. Thank you for your hard work and digilance in. all that you are doing.
Tony
I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them are still working and paying into Social Security at age 150. The SSA doesn’t aways catch crooks stealing other people’s identity to work. If the deceased person is not identified as dead, the crooks can easily use the deceased person’s Social Security number to work.
Harold B.
“It’s good to see SSA taking steps to maintain accurate records and prevent potential fraud. However, I hope this initiative doesn’t lead to unnecessary delays or wrongful suspensions for living beneficiaries, especially seniors who may not frequently use Medicare. Ensuring accuracy while protecting legitimate recipients should be the top priority.”
Linda H.
As the SSA requires expats to fill out a form every year to receive their benefits overseas, why can’t the SSA require the same form for every citizen on SS to do the same? Don’t you think that would help with waste, fraud and abuse? Send out such a form to those receiving SS on the anniversary of their signing up for benefits?
Dan M.
Please get the truth out there as soon as possible about each of these cases that DOGE is using to undermine our faith in the system.
Isaac S.
This issue was presented as huge amounts of benefits being paid on records of people who are clearly dead. You say “while these people may not be receiving benefits” in this blog post.
Please provide information on the amount of benefits that have been paid on the records of these people you are identifying as having been deceased in this finding.
Donna M.
Please provide data results and not just verbiage.
Carlos c.
Si estoy de acuerdo pero los que somos ciudadanos de estados unidos y retirados viviendo en otro país es problema porque salimos por ser extrema pobreza yo agarro 1000 al mes tengo esposa que no es ni residente ni ciudadana tenemos dos niños podríamos vivir en California no ni yo solo podría vivir con 1000 dólar al mes pago aquí mi medicina de la próstata alta precion azúcar articulaciones en los pies no puedo vivir en la usa y no puedo comunicarme con ssa solo FBU en costa rica
Houston
I am more interested if any of these “aged” recipients actually received any social security benefits.
Jody F.
SSA checks my IRS earnings in order to charge me for my Medicare. Can’t IRS records also be used for estate closeout tax submissions by the family when a person passes on?