Recently, both President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have been making claims about deceased Americans receiving Social Security payments. They suggest that some individuals listed as being over 100 years old, or even as old as 150 or more, are still getting benefits. However, the new head of the Social Security Administration, Lee Dudek, has refuted these claims, stating that they are not true.
In this article, we will explore these claims in detail, explain the findings of the Social Security Administration, and break down why these accusations are misleading.
The Claims by Trump and Musk
Over the past week, both Trump and Musk have been vocal about potential fraud within the Social Security system. They have pointed to records of people listed in the Social Security database who are reportedly 150 years old or even older. Musk shared screenshots of the database, claiming that these “old” people were receiving Social Security payments. He went so far as to joke that people who are 150 years old should be in the Guinness Book of World Records. President Trump also echoed similar concerns in a public speech, suggesting that millions of people as old as 110 or 119 years are receiving Social Security checks.
However, the claims that these elderly people are receiving Social Security benefits are not accurate.
Dudek’s Response to the Claims
Lee Dudek, the newly appointed Acting Commissioner of Social Security, addressed the claims in a statement. He clarified that the individuals listed in the database as over 100 years old or even older may not necessarily be receiving benefits. In fact, the problem stems from outdated or missing death information in the Social Security system.
According to Dudek, these individuals are listed in the system because there is no death date associated with their records. This does not mean they are still receiving Social Security payments. Many people in this category have passed away, but their death information hasn’t been properly updated in the database.
A Closer Look at the Social Security Database
A 2023 report from the Social Security Administration’s inspector general revealed that around 18.9 million Americans born before 1920 are still listed in the Social Security database. However, the report also stated that almost none of these deceased individuals were receiving payments. This directly contradicts the claims made by Trump and Musk. The report also highlighted that the Social Security Administration was already aware of this issue and was working to correct it.
The Social Security Administration has long known that certain records are incomplete. In some cases, individuals who are over 100 years old are still listed in the system simply because their death records have not been properly updated. This issue is largely administrative and doesn’t reflect any kind of widespread fraud.
The Reality of Fraud in Social Security
While Trump and Musk’s claims about deceased people receiving Social Security benefits have been widely debunked, there is still a real concern about fraud within the system. A 2024 report by the Social Security Inspector General found that $71.8 billion in improper Social Security payments were made between 2015 and 2022. However, this amount represents less than 1% of the total $8.6 trillion in benefits paid out during that time.
The improper payments mainly consisted of overpayments or underpayments and not fraudulent claims by deceased individuals. While the issue of improper payments is significant, it is not as widespread as some might believe.
Trump’s Continued Accusations
Despite the findings from the inspector general and the clarification from Lee Dudek, President Trump has continued to push his narrative of widespread fraud within the Social Security system. He recently stated that the situation is one of the “great potential scandals in history” and claimed that millions of people as old as 110 are still on Social Security rolls. Trump even mentioned that one individual on the list is supposedly 360 years old, which he said was 110 years older than the United States itself.
These exaggerated claims have raised concerns, especially since they have not been supported by any concrete evidence. Social Security officials have emphasised that these reports are misleading and do not reflect the reality of the situation.
The Role of Elon Musk
Elon Musk has also played a significant role in spreading these claims. As the owner of Tesla, SpaceX, and other companies, Musk has a huge following on social media. He shared images of the Social Security database and claimed that it revealed people as old as 150 who are still listed as living in the system. However, Social Security experts have explained that the database issue is not a sign of fraud but rather a technical glitch involving incomplete records.
Musk’s influence has made these false claims more widespread, which has led to confusion and concern among the public. However, Social Security officials have reassured the public that these claims are not based on facts and that the system is not as flawed as Musk and Trump suggest.
In conclusion, the claims made by President Trump and Elon Musk about deceased individuals receiving Social Security benefits are largely unfounded. The issue stems from outdated or missing death information in the Social Security database, not from widespread fraud. While there are legitimate concerns about improper payments, the claims about 150-year-olds and other extreme cases are misleading.
You Must Visit: California State Online