WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has made exaggerated claims regarding Social Security payments allegedly being distributed to millions of deceased individuals aged 100 years and older. Recently, President Donald Trump and advisor Elon Musk have suggested on various platforms that individuals up to 300 years old are illegitimately collecting benefits, labeling it a “HUGE problem.” Musk’s focus on this issue comes as part of an initiative from the Department of Government Efficiency aimed at identifying and eliminating waste within federal agencies.
While it is a fact that some improper payments have occurred—including payments made to deceased individuals—the figures cited by Trump and Musk significantly misrepresent the reality of Social Security data.
During a press briefing in Florida, Trump claimed there are “millions and millions” of individuals over the age of 100 receiving benefits. He described these payments as either fraudulent or a result of incompetence, asserting that removing such individuals from the program would strengthen Social Security for those aged 70 to 90. Trump even stated that one record listed a person as being 360 years old.
Musk added fuel to the fire with a series of posts on his social media platform X, alluding to the absurdity of thousands of potentially immortal beings collecting Social Security, and suggesting that some beneficiaries predate the formation of the United States.
On a more official note, Lee Dudek, the acting commissioner of Social Security, confirmed that the records do reflect individuals over the age of 100. However, he clarified that these are merely people with Social Security numbers lacking a documented date of death, and not all of them necessarily receive benefits.
In terms of the extent of Social Security fraud, a report from the agency’s inspector general indicated that out of nearly $8.6 trillion in benefits disbursed between fiscal years 2015 and 2022, about $71.8 billion—or less than 1%—was paid out incorrectly, primarily involving overpayments to living individuals.
The Treasury Department has made efforts to recover funds fraudulently allocated to the deceased, reclaiming over $31 million through a pilot program initiated by Congress, which allows access to the Social Security Administration’s comprehensive database of deceased individuals. The Social Security Administration keeps a meticulous account of deaths, spanning over 142 million records dating back to 1899.
Despite the widespread assertions, it is important to note that tens of millions of people over 100 are not raiding the Social Security system. A significant part of the misunderstanding stems from the usage of obsolete technology known as COBOL, which leads to incorrect defaults for incomplete or missing birthdates, making it appear that some individuals are much older than they truly are. Reports have demonstrated that many records show individuals born in 1920 or earlier without proper death annotations, but that does not imply they are receiving benefits.
Additionally, the Social Security Administration has opted not to update these records due to estimated costs exceeding $9 million. Importantly, as highlighted in a July 2023 report, practically no individuals referenced in the improper payments discussion currently receive any Social Security. Notably, payments cease automatically for anyone over the age of 115.
Experts have highlighted concerns regarding the spread of misinformation tied to Social Security. Chuck Blahous, a senior strategist at the Mercatus Center, acknowledged that while rooting out improper payments is essential, Social Security should not be regarded as the top priority when addressing issues across federal programs. Medicaid, he noted, has much higher error rates.
Sita Nataraj Slavov, a public policy professor at George Mason University, cautioned that such claims may mislead the public into believing there exist straightforward solutions to Social Security’s financial challenges, diverting attention from the complexities involved in maintaining the program’s solvency.
In response to the criticism, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt highlighted the findings of the inspector general’s report on improper payments, citing ongoing efforts by the Social Security Administration to mitigate waste and protect taxpayer interests.
