In today's episode, we dive into a recent New York Times article challenging the viral claim that "millions of dead people" are fraudulently receiving Social Security payments. The controversy arose because a database called Numident, which holds over 500 million issued Social Security numbers, shows millions of records for individuals born more than a century ago with no recorded death. However, the Social Security Administration's (SSA) public data—covering nearly 52 million retired worker beneficiaries—reveals that only about 90,000 beneficiaries are over 100 years old, aligning closely with Census Bureau estimates. Critics, including figures like Elon Musk and former President Trump, have cited alarming numbers from Numident, such as 20 million people over 100 with no death record, but experts clarify that these entries are not currently receiving benefits and are largely inactive. As Kathleen Romig from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities put it, “Elon Musk did not discover this problem in the Numident,” underscoring that the issue is overstated and largely irrelevant to ongoing disbursements.

Key Points:

• The Numident database lists over 500 million issued Social Security numbers, including many records for individuals born over 100 years ago with no recorded death.
• Only about 90,000 retired Social Security check recipients are over the age of 100, in line with Census Bureau estimates of roughly 85,000 centenarians in the US.
• The SSA focuses on nearly 52 million American retired worker beneficiaries, not the broader historical database containing inactive records.
• A 2023 SSA inspector general report noted nearly 19 million records for individuals over 100 without a recorded death, yet “almost none” are receiving payments, as highlighted by Kathleen Romig.
• Misinterpretations of this data have led to claims by figures like Elon Musk and Trump, although experts argue that these numbers do not indicate widespread fraud.
• The controversy also touches on broader issues like potential fraud from identity theft and overpayments, but these account for less than 1% of overall payments made by the SSA.
  Link to Article