The Trump Administration’s Misleading Claims About Social Security Payments to the Deceased

The Trump administration, led by President Donald Trump and billionaire advisor Elon Musk, has been making headlines with claims that tens of millions of deceased individuals over 100 years old are receiving Social Security payments. These claims, often made on social media and in press briefings, suggest a widespread issue of improper payments to the dead, with Trump even mentioning someone listed as 360 years old in the system. While it is true that some improper payments have occurred, the administration’s portrayal of the problem is grossly exaggerated and misrepresents the data. This chapter will explore the facts behind these claims, the context of improper payments, and the implications of the administration’s narrative.

The Exaggerated Narrative: Separating Fact from Fiction

President Trump and Elon Musk have painted a picture of a Social Security system rife with abuse, where millions of deceased individuals are receiving benefits. In a press briefing, Trump alleged that millions of people over 100 years old are on the Social Security rolls, calling it “fraudulent or incompetent.” Similarly, Musk took to his social media platform, X, to claim that tens of millions of deceased individuals are marked as “ALIVE” in Social Security records. He even joked about the possibility of vampires collecting benefits, a comment that highlights the sensationalism behind the claims. However, these assertions are not supported by the actual data.

A July 2024 report from the Social Security inspector general reveals that between fiscal years 2015 and 2022, the agency paid out nearly $8.6 trillion in benefits. Of this amount, only $71.8 billion—or less than 1%—were improper payments. Furthermore, most of these improper payments were overpayments to living people, not to the deceased. While any improper payment is a concern, the scale of the problem is far smaller than what Trump and Musk suggest. The narrative of tens of millions of dead people receiving benefits is simply not accurate.

The Recovery of Improper Payments: A Drop in the Bucket

In early January, the U.S. Treasury recovered more than $31 million in improper federal payments, including some Social Security payments, that had been made to deceased individuals. This recovery was part of a pilot program aimed at identifying and recouping such payments. Over the next three years, the Treasury estimates it will recover more than $215 million in improper payments. While this is a positive step toward addressing waste, the amounts involved are relatively small compared to the overall budget of the Social Security program. Moreover, the data used to identify these improper payments comes from the Social Security Administration’s “Full Death Master File,” a database that contains over 142 million records dating back to 1899. Despite this, the vast majority of improper payments are not due to fraud but rather to clerical errors or outdated systems.

The Role of Outdated Systems in Perpetuating Confusion

One of the key factors contributing to the confusion over Social Security payments to the deceased is the agency’s use of outdated software. The Social Security Administration relies on a system written in COBOL, a programming language that dates back to the 1950s. One of the limitations of this system is its handling of dates. When birthdates are missing or incomplete, the system defaults to a reference point of over 150 years ago. This quirk has led to some individuals appearing to be 200, 300, or even 360 years old in the records. While this makes for sensational headlines, it does not mean that these individuals are actually receiving benefits. In fact, the Social Security Administration automatically stops payments to anyone older than 115, and most of the individuals in these outdated records are no longer alive.

The inspector general’s reports also highlight the challenge of updating the system. A July 2023 report noted that updating the database to properly annotate death information would cost upwards of $9 million. Given these costs, the Social Security Administration has chosen not to update the records of individuals born in 1920 or earlier, many of whom are no longer receiving benefits. As a result, the records are outdated, but this does not translate to widespread fraud or abuse in the system.

The Real Problem: Exaggerating a Minor Issue

Despite the administration’s claims, experts agree that improper payments in Social Security are not the massive problem being portrayed. Chuck Blahous, a senior research strategist at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, noted that Social Security’s improper payment rate is actually quite low compared to other government programs. “If you’re looking for places in the federal government where error rates are high, Social Security would be near the bottom of the list, not near the top,” Blahous said. He pointed to programs like Medicaid, where improper payment rates are significantly higher and have increased since the Affordable Care Act expanded Medicaid eligibility.

The danger of the administration’s narrative is that it creates a false impression that solving Social Security’s financial challenges is simply a matter of rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse. While addressing improper payments is important, the real financial issues facing Social Security are far more complex. They involve difficult choices about taxes, benefit levels, and the long-term solvency of the program. By focusing on the exaggerated claims of payments to the deceased, the administration is diverting attention from the necessary conversations about how to ensure Social Security remains viable for future generations.

Conclusion: A Call for Clarity and Solutions

The claims made by President Trump and Elon Musk about Social Security payments to the deceased are a prime example of how misinformation can shape public perception. While improper payments do occur, the scale of the problem is far smaller than what is being suggested. Instead of focusing on sensational claims, we should be having a more nuanced conversation about how to address the real challenges facing Social Security. This includes updating outdated systems, improving data accuracy, and making thoughtful decisions about the program’s future.

As Karoline Leavitt, a White House spokesperson, noted, the Social Security Administration is working to identify and address waste, fraud, and abuse as part of a broader effort to protect taxpayer dollars. However, this effort must be balanced with a clear understanding of the actual scope of the problem. The administration’s exaggerated claims about payments to the deceased do a disservice to the public by creating unnecessary fear and misunderstanding. By focusing on the facts and addressing the real issues, we can work toward a more effective and sustainable Social Security system for all.