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.
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Jace M.
This is a joke until actual numbers and proof is shown. Until then, no one knows the “full truth” and it’s odd that all of this information is vague in nature. If you truly want to show this is legitimate and truly want the people to understand, believe, follow, UNITE, etc., we deserve actually quantifiable metrics. We were promised transparency. Transparency that has YET to happen. That to me feels like a bait and switch. Good luck holding an “interview” using technology that reaches people that are 80+ that literally simply can not utilize the technology to do so (unless the phrase is assuming it’s an in person interview). All the American people have heard is “millions”, “hundreds of millions”, and so on. Surely someone in this organization sees this and thinks the exact same.
Jen
Thank you for your hard work, I’m sorry you had to put out a statement with donalds name on it.
True Americans know you’re non partisan and work very hard for us.
NancyL
I worked from age 18 to past 65.I earned my social Security.If Elon and his group of kids take it,They should be arrested for stealing.Trump should be impeached.He is the biggest crook on this earth.These people aka pigs with money have no respect for normal working people.I pray everyday they all disappear from this earth and end up in Hell,where they belong.God will punish all of them, and the devil in hell can’t wait to welcome them.
Ray G.
It is ridiculous, irresponsible, and totally incompetent that there is even a question about these errant records still existing in the system for so long. It is even further irresponsible for the SSA not to be able to give a definitive answer as to whether or not any of these people are still receiving payments at this juncture. Thanks to DOGE for pointing out the obviously negligent record keeping which would have continued until GOD knows when.
Victoria M.
Thank you for finally looking at people over the age of 100 receiving benefits
I don’t understand why they would be in the system unless someone is receiving benefits under their social security number
Yvonne F.
The real question here is how much was actually paid to said people over 100+ years illegally? I’m willing to bet very little. The millions spoken during Trumps speech were geared to show fraud and the SSA must correct him.
M. C.
I applaud the people administering Social Security. My husband died recently and his SS payment was stopped immediately.
All people make mistakes sometime. Social Security has been in existence almost 89 years.
According to the December 2024 Fact Sheet prepared for the Social Security Trustee report, about 68.5 million people received benefits.
Nicholas W.
It would be very helpful if SSA could provided a description, and examples of how data was collected, recorded, and organized beginning with the implementation of Social Security in 1945. How was data collected and recorded for individuals born prior to 1945? All people related information was basically manually recorded on ledgers well into the 1960s. Information concerning births and deaths was and still is controlled by the states and there still isn’t an effective and efficient national system for gathering that information. When Social Security was first implemented many groups of people, especially women were excluded. It would be interesting to learn how and when this information was added to the Social Security “data base.” I think people envision a system with a wealth of information on each individual; an Orwellian collection of information on every aspect of one’s life. I had some experience working with Social Security records in the past. I was surprised at how little information was actually recorded. I’m sure most people would also be surprised, and probably aghast, at how little information was actually in SSA records. Non-military/intelligence gathering government agencies have had and continue to have daunting problems getting effective computer systems. Historically, Congress has been unwilling to fund non-military/intelligence computer systems because of the cost and fears of how those systems might be used. A great example of this struggle is the IRS’ on-going quest to bring its computer systems somewhere remotely near what’s available in the private sector.
Robin W.
All of DJT’s lies are part of their plan to disrupt Social Security and give false reasons for doing so. The government has been borrowing funds from Social Security and never paying it back. They have also cut off required contributions from the highest salary earners. That is another perk for the very wealthy. Let’s see how much longer we receive checks for the funds each of us has contributed.
Rich E.
Hi also would like an update of your review to see how much money if any was saved. Glad you are looking into it and updating your records thank you.