The Trump administration has recently raised concerns about improper Social Security payments, specifically targeting payments to individuals over 100 years old. President Donald Trump and advisor Elon Musk have made claims suggesting that millions of deceased individuals, some even over 200 or 300 years old, are receiving benefits. However, these claims have been found to be exaggerated and misrepresentative of the actual data.
While it is true that there have been improper payments, including to deceased individuals, the numbers cited by Trump and Musk are not accurate. Social Security's inspector general report from July 2024 revealed that improper payments accounted for less than 1% of the total benefits paid out by the agency from fiscal years 2015 through 2022.
In early January, the U.S. Treasury initiated a pilot program to recover funds that were incorrectly disbursed to deceased individuals, resulting in the clawback of over $31 million in federal payments. This effort was part of a broader initiative to address waste, fraud, and abuse across federal agencies.
Contrary to the claims made by Trump and Musk, the assertion that tens of millions of people over 100 years old are receiving benefits is unfounded. The confusion stems from the limitations of Social Security's software system, which defaults to a reference point of over 150 years ago for entries with missing birthdates.
Furthermore, reports from the Social Security Administration's inspector general have highlighted issues with the agency's database management, including the failure to properly annotate death information for certain individuals. However, this does not imply that these individuals were actively receiving benefits.
Experts caution against misinformation regarding Social Security payments, emphasizing that while efforts to address improper payments are commendable, they do not address the underlying financial challenges facing the system. The White House has reiterated the importance of identifying and rectifying improper payments as part of a broader government-wide initiative to safeguard taxpayer funds.
