Trump’s new Social Security head admits dead Americans ‘aren’t necessarily’ getting checks

​In recent weeks, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has been at the center of a contentious debate regarding alleged improper payments to deceased individuals. President Donald Trump and his adviser, Elon Musk, have asserted that millions of deceased individuals—some purportedly as old as 150 or even 300 years—are receiving Social Security benefits. However, these claims have been met with skepticism and refutation from various quarters, including the SSA’s own leadership.​AP NewsABC7 New York+5CBS News+5AP News+5

Claims of Payments to the Deceased

President Trump and Elon Musk have raised concerns about the SSA’s payment system. Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), highlighted what he described as anomalies within the SSA’s records. He suggested that individuals with ages exceeding 150 years were still listed as active beneficiaries, implying significant fraud within the system. Musk’s statements included:​AP News+7Fox Business+7The US Sun+7

“Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security.” ​AP News+1CBS News+1

These remarks were intended to underscore perceived inefficiencies and potential fraudulent activities within the SSA.​AP News+5The US Sun+5People.com+5

SSA’s Response and Clarification

In response to these allegations, Lee Dudek, the acting commissioner of the SSA appointed by President Trump, provided clarifications that challenge the claims made by Trump and Musk. Dudek explained that the presence of individuals listed as over 100 years old in SSA records does not necessarily indicate they are receiving benefits. He attributed these anomalies to outdated data management systems, particularly the use of the COBOL programming language, which defaults to placeholder dates when birth information is incomplete. Dudek stated:​ABC News+7AP News+7CBS News+7AP News+2CBS News+2AP News+2

“The reported data are people in our records with a Social Security number who do not have a date of death associated with their record. These individuals are not necessarily receiving benefits.” ​AP News+1CBS News+1

This explanation suggests that the alleged overpayments may be more reflective of data entry issues than actual disbursement of funds to deceased individuals.​

Extent of Improper Payments

While acknowledging that improper payments have occurred, the scale appears to be significantly less than suggested by Musk and Trump. A report from the SSA’s inspector general covering fiscal years 2015 through 2022 indicated that out of approximately $8.6 trillion in benefits paid, about $71.8 billion—less than 1%—were improper payments. Notably, most of these were overpayments to living individuals rather than payments to the deceased. ​AP News+1CBS News+1

Efforts to Address Data Anomalies

In light of these findings, the SSA, with assistance from DOGE, has initiated efforts to rectify its records. This includes updating the status of individuals erroneously listed as alive despite being over 120 years old. DOGE reported that approximately 7 million such records have been corrected, with an additional 5 million pending review. ​People.com+7The US Sun+7CBS News+7Fox Business

Political and Public Reactions

The discourse surrounding these claims has elicited varied reactions. Critics argue that the Trump administration’s emphasis on alleged fraud is a strategy to justify potential cuts to Social Security benefits. Representative John B. Larson, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, labeled Trump’s assertions as “blatant lies,” expressing concern over the potential undermining of public confidence in the Social Security system. ​Vox+1AP News+1Congressman John Larson

Conversely, some officials within the administration maintain that addressing inefficiencies is crucial for the program’s sustainability. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested that individuals not receiving payments are unlikely to raise complaints, implying that concerns may be overstated. ​Vox+1Yahoo+1

Impact on Beneficiaries

Amid these administrative and political developments, individual beneficiaries have experienced disruptions. Cases have emerged where individuals were mistakenly declared deceased, leading to the suspension of their benefits. For instance, Leonard “Ned” Johnson, an 82-year-old from Seattle, faced significant challenges in reinstating his Social Security and Medicare benefits after being erroneously marked as deceased. ​People.com+1Newsweek+1

Conclusion

The controversy over alleged Social Security payments to deceased individuals underscores the complexities of managing vast governmental databases and the potential for misinformation to influence public perception. While the SSA acknowledges the need for system improvements, current evidence does not support the scale of fraud suggested by some administration officials. As the SSA works to modernize its systems and rectify data inaccuracies, it remains imperative to balance efforts to enhance efficiency with the need to maintain public trust in this vital social safety net.

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