Social Security faces renewed scrutiny as officials allege millions of deceased recipients improperly received benefits. Claims about 200-year-old improper payments intensified this week when Elon Musk called it a HUGE problem following President Trump’s Florida briefing remarks.
Data shows $71.8 billion in improper Social Security payments occurred from 2015-2022, but nearly all involved overpayments to living beneficiaries. Less than 1% went to deceased individuals. The Treasury’s five-month pilot program reclaimed $31 million in incorrect federal payments, including Social Security. Their three-year recovery target is $215 million.
Having tens of millions marked ‘ALIVE’ when dead is obvious fraud,Musk posted. Meanwhile, former Treasury official David Lebryk warned recovered funds are just the tip of the iceberg.
Key factors driving confusion:
- Outdated COBOL systems default birthdates to 150+ years ago
- 18.9 million unmarked deceased in Social Security’s database
- Automatic payment stops for recipients over 115
Experts contest the narrative’s scale. Chuck Blahous of George Mason University noted: Medicaid’s improper rates dwarf Social Security’s. Sita Slavov cautioned these claims dangerously oversimplify fixing federal finances: Solutions require hard choices – not magic bullet myths.
The White House reaffirmed commitments to fraud prevention after a July 2024 Inspector General report, while Social Security’s $9 million database update remains unfunded. As 2035 insolvency looms, experts stress accurate public understanding is critical for sustainable reforms.
