Social Security Provides Update about its Death Record
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: March 26, 2025
We announced yesterday that more than three million deaths are reported to the Social Security Administration each year and explained that our records are highly accurate. Of these millions of death reports received each year, less than one-third of 1 percent are erroneously reported deaths that need to be corrected.
Deaths are reported to Social Security primarily from the States, but also from other sources, including family members, funeral homes, Federal agencies, and financial institutions. In a 2008 audit report, the Inspector General noted that “SSA receives most death reports from funeral homes or friends/relatives of the deceased. SSA considers such first party death reports to be verified and immediately posts them to the Death Master File.”
Instances when a person is erroneously reported as deceased to Social Security can be devasting to the individual, spouse, and dependent children. Benefits are stopped in the short term which can cause financial hardship until fixed and benefits restored, and the process to prove an erroneous death will always seem too long and challenging.
If a person suspects that they have been incorrectly listed as deceased on their Social Security record, they should contact their local Social Security office as soon as possible. They should be prepared to bring at least one piece of current (not expired) original form of identification. Social Security takes immediate action to correct its records and the agency can provide a letter that the error has been corrected that can be shared with other organizations, agencies, and employers.
For additional information, please visit What to do when someone dies.
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Beth
Doge is trying to cover up a planned heist of our EARNED benefits with propaganda. Don’t believe it! Pass this on to the big muskrat who called SSA a Ponzi scheme: Americans have money deducted from each pay check to contribute to a fund they elect to receive at retirement. It is OWNED by the American people.
We see you for what you are. Definitely not an American because the real ones don’t want to harm fellow citizens, the sick and the elderly.
Mike
Are you this dumb in real life, or just on social media? You can’t be real and be this stupid.
Muskrat L.
So sorry to have upset you, Mike
Best wishes
Edward H.
There are so many things wrong with your statement I am not sure where to start…
1. The DOGE is not trying to take away the benefits that you and I and millions more have earned… What DOGE is/are referring to are the millions who are receiving SS without ever paying a dime into it and those who are still cashing SS checks without deaths of the beneficiary being reported.
2. The reason these people are drawing SS without paying in has been caused by YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES passing legislation (over the last 60+ years) to make it an Entitlement not an OLD AGE PENSION/Benefit!
These same Representatives, additionally, have allowed themselves, as members of Congress, to take monies out of the SS fund and use it for other projects. THEY never put and IOU in so they have never paid it back. That is what our representatives have done over these many years.
I would tell you OPEN YOUR EYES, YOUR EARS, and become educated because what DOGE has found is our WHOLE SYSTEM is TOTALLY CORRUPT and NEEDS TO SOMEHOW BE REPAIRED. I have questioned where all our tax money goes and this is just one slice of a BLOATED OVERSIZE GOVERNMENT, who keeps telling us they are going to make things better as they create another AGENCY, that we DO NOT NEED. Also, it is why your taxes are so HIGH, if you pay taxes. Think about ALL THE DIFFERENT TAXES YOU ACTUALLY PAY!!!
Sil
You are a fool!! if it wasn’t for President Trump and Elon we’d know nothing about the fraud clown
Barbara
Can I draw SS on my husband if his 1st wife is already drawing on him. We have been married 40 years and he was married to first wife for 15 years.
Pat
Yes, if you are 62 or older. However, maximum spousal benefit is at your full retirement age.Pat
S.S.
Hi, Barbara. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefit, you may be able to get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse’s amount. For more information, visit our Benefits for Spouses page. In addition, you may wish to read our publication, What Every Woman Should Know.
To speak with a representative about your spouse’s benefits, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
D
SPELLCHECK!!!!
“ devasting” instead of devastating
Come on folks. You’ve got to get this stuff right if you want to be believed.
Cherie P.
YOU TELL EM!!! I get so irked when I see errors in spelling AND grammar from individuals or corporations, agencies etc.
It makes them appear so very unprofessional and I actually lose whatever respect I may ever have had for this CLOWN WHO DOESN’T CARE!
Cherie P.
I liked your post, D. And I even responded to It but it has done went and goned!! How’s that for p-poor grammar?! I always feel unappreciated when my words DISAPPEAR!
OK, what I typed an hour ago:
You tell ‘em, D!!! What really irks me is when I find an online post and it contains MISSPELLING or poor grammar or BOTH! So very unprofessional. If I had respect for that murdering entity before, it’s gone now!
UNACCEPTABLE PEOPLE !
Brad
Thank you for keeping me updated on this important information.
Brent
That’s the number I thought it’d be – before The Trump Generation Exaggeration Factor was applied!
Tony
The large percentage of those dead people don’t even collect Social Security.
It seems like the big tech tycoons want the SSA to spend billions of dollars to upgrade their computer system, so their corporations can make billions.
The nuclear weapons computer system is outdated, but it can’t be hacked. You just gave DOGE and the Russian access to all the old computers system. Now they know which departments uses certain types of computers softwares and how to hack those computer softwares.
Un b.
😂. Wrong ! U missed those receiving are going to out of the country , = SCAMMERS, Identities stolen. & possibly corrupt employees.. facts!
you’ve been brainwashed
Kathleen L.
Evidence? Source?
enrique c.
Hi my name is Enrique Ramirez I’m trying to know where you send my check of the disability I was with all my body with wounds I wasn’t scripts I have evidence of that they made me a hole in my leg I needed surgery and operation I don’t know how to tell this but I think somebody enter my account and grab them information for grabbing my my disability check and my medicine too and he answers to my unemployment that’s the ABT and Banks Chase Bank of America and Navy Federal they have a lot of years doing this and I think immigration want to keep him my documents I think so and I can’t sue for that I’m trying to recover my check you tell me where to get rabbit oh I need to sue thank you
jo l.
This site is not going to be able to help you. It’s actually difficult tounderstand what you are saying. If you have an account, log into that and do some searching. More than likely, if you call, you will be on hold for a very, very long time and won’t get the answers you need. You will, most likely, have to go to one of SS offices. Trump and his boyfriend Musk have closed or are closing offices and I hope you can find one that is not too inconvenient. Good luck.
Dorothy
You should probably go in to your local SSA office to report this. Usually Social Security deposits directly to your bank account. They offer another option you can sign up for, the Social Security debit card. My daughter says she sometimes gets her monthly money direct to the card and she can use it as a bank debit card to take money out for rent and such. Please check with your local Doc. Sec. office!
Joshua S.
Surely the SSA IT guy, Leland Dudek, is well aware of the massive amounts of “fraud, waste and abuse” taking place seeing as his credentials are above and beyond a Muskrat 👏
Thank goodness for DOGE, I was worried Social Security might increase – close one!
🫠
George A.
From 2012 – 2023 I had been a VA Fiduciary for a WWII vet who was a family member. On multiple occasions, I attempted to report fraud that was taking place by his caretaker in the form of false written statements, forged checks, and actual theft of SSI, VA pension and SSA benefit funds by his caretaker to the Dept of Health and Welfare, VA and the IRS to the local offices and each of their district headquarters. Physical evidence was provided with each submittal. This was an ongoing situation right up to the Veteran’s death and not once was any of the issues investigated.
Thank God now, there appears to be an effort in place to correct this type of behavior. i.e. getting rid of useless personnel and the theft of taxpayer’s funds.
Tommy H.
What about the annual death records to SSI disability recipients after the audit – where do those deposit checks go – along with all the DOEG savings from fraudulent waste governmental spending that runs into billions on dollars annually,surely SSA can raise the monthly SSI disability amount well over 30,000 a month to individual recipients, and 150,000 a month to married SSI couples – so that they can compete with the current cost living.Current payments to both these recipients is quite below the current cost of living – less than a government handout.They certainly cannot get any personal or business loans.
Margie G.
Many Social Security offices are closing, or will be closed. This especially hurts people in rural areas. Bringing a document to a “local” office may mean driving 130+ miles. Things are being made more difficult for the people that need help.
Theresa M.
I would like an update on the Doge report where they listed by category millions of people from ages 110 – 369 with no death date posted. Were any of these people, who could not possibly be alive, receiving monthly benefits? I read where you check people who have not used medicare medical benefits for 3 years. But my 91 year old mother had health insurance through my father’s employer up until 2 years ago. Before that, she paid for BlueCross Blue Shield C & D policies. She also takes no Rx medications, and up until 2 years ago, was very healthy with no reason to go to the doctor very often. She has fallen 3 times within the past year, so she does have hospital and doctors visits. What about people who are on SS yet do not use medicade or medicare benefits? How do you routinely check for that?
enrique c.
My benefits was stolen I give my new direction to IRS I think they did in send it to me I have my document for immigration I see something suspicious legal aid didn’t do the work they tell to I think my ex wife and my ex-girlfriend know about this but I need my check they’re stealing me from 2019 I cannot recover myself I’m homeless they training me they tried to kill me I put up a police report that detective I never can talk with a detective I have a lot of proof in they don’t do nothing I need to grab a lawyer I don’t know but there’s not the first time they claim something the other time you keep them 10,000 with 200 10,200 con Vito the lawyer he told me I didn’t have a case then who is telling lies thank you for everything my name is Enrique Ramirez my phone number is 858-419-9654 my email you already have it I appreciate it you you communicate with me the most quickly you can I’m homeless I don’t have any money away my own did they take my medicine too
David
DOGE and Trump are wrong. Social Security keep telling the public 150 yr olds are getting checks, false. SS has a separate “NUMI” file which is NOT a payment file. NUMI files contain basic info, ie. name, DOB, SS #. They are closed when proper death certificates are received. If not rec’d they are kept open. Don’t believe Trump or Musk, they want to get rid of SS. Call your Representatives if you’re having problems.