Social Security Addressing Aged Records
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: April 18, 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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Damian
If you were so steadfast in rooting out fraud and waste, why didn’t you find this long before President Trump found it? You say they might not be receiving benefits, make sure you find out.
Ann
I agree 100% Why allow this to go on unnoticed for How long?
Debby C.
When will the facts be published? How many were being paid? How many are valid? How many were invalid? Facts should be published to trump and the people. Tired of all of the fake news.
Bill
If the writers at this site quit the deliberate politicizing their reporting, the memos will be far more believable….ie. [“I thank President Trump for highlighting these inconsistencies during his speech last night to a joint session of Congress,” said Lee Dudek].
Stick to the facts only…..the eliminating waste and fraud, etc. will make you sound far more credible.
Michael
Hear, Hear!
Enough but-kissing by Dudek, who should go back to being a mid-level analyst.
Terri C.
It’s a shame that Trump continues to say that there are people over 300 years old 200 years old 100 years old that are dead and our continuing to collect Social security. His continued lies only hurt us, and those that are dependent on receiving their Social Security checks, which they have spent a lifetime contributing to.
LuAn
Is Trump going to retract his misleading statements from last night?
Calvin W.
Okay I have heard from both sides, now what?
Richard S.
It would be helpful to mention that SSA has long automatically stopped payments to anyone over the age of 115. It would be also helpful if you could explain how may people over the Age of 100 were actually receiving benefits, but are dead. While this topic sounds like outrageous waste, fraud and abuse, the actual number of very old dead people still receiving checks is incredibly small. Thank you!
Bernie X.
Betcha nobody responds. So much for transparency.
KAS
And you know this as a fact, how? Fraud in social security payments as well as the voter poles is a lot higher than they are reporting. They just found hundreds of mail in votes in Georgia that were received from deceased people. And the fraud in the SNAP program is outrageous. Several weeks ago I experienced it first hand with a woman paying for soda, chips, ice cream and candy with food stamps. To the tune of over a hundred dollars. The clerk told me it is an everyday experience with food stamps. I don’t spend that kind of money on junk food in a year!
Deidra
As a cashier I have met 4 customers shopping for themselves at the age of 103. They might have a cane but do not give them wrong change. Schools in the old days taught mental math. Yes people get confused at 80 and up. Still not every old person is senile or has Alzheimers. Many might be in nursing homes . It is ridiculous to expect all the elderly to sign up on line or go for an appointment. Some drive but some only drive on quiet streets and avoid the highways. Slower reaction time and so many rude impatient drivers too. Also some have poor eyesight or arthritic fingers . Using a computer can be tough. And on a fixed income some might not have the financial resources to buy a computer or upgrade. A good solution would be to have them use a notary at a bank library or elder center. Maybe a better solution would be licensed social workers who could be notaries as well who could visit to do the verification process once a year. The elderly person who is in a wheel chair and in fragile health and low stamina and strength might be better served with a home visit solution.
K
you a tool and a puppet to a puppet
John A.
You have got to be kidding me. That’s an answer?
Nancy L.
If this has been the long established program for correcting the database why was this not explained to DOGE in the first place and therefore this not really being an issue. Other articles I have read on this topic have stated that it costs too much money to make the database corrections. The above statement sounds like someone is talking out of both sides of their mouths.
Bill
Well said…..sounds as if the writers of these memos are making a deliberate play to politicize their jobs…looking for a gold star or an “atta boy”.
#resist
fight the fascists. the liars. the con artists. the grifters. Why do republicans and this White House hate American values?
vera l.
agree