Trump’s bold claim that 149-year-olds are receiving Social Security payments sparks controversy and prompts experts to clarify the facts.
Trump alleges Social Security payments to centenarians and beyond
The US Social Security Administration (SSA) has responded to claims made by President Donald Trump regarding payments to individuals over 140 years old.
On March 4, during a congressional address, Trump alleged that millions of elderly citizens were still receiving benefits. He stated that the SSA had been paying out funds to people with impossible ages.
Trump’s allegations on Social Security Fraud
Trump outlined shocking numbers of supposed beneficiaries:
– 4.7 million aged 100 to 109
– 3.6 million aged 110 to 119
– 3.47 million aged 120 to 129
– 3.9 million aged 130 to 139
– 3.5 million aged 140 to 149
– 1.3 million aged 150 to 159
– 130,000 individuals over 160 years old
– Even one person allegedly aged 360
Trump accused the SSA of severe mismanagement, suggesting that large-scale fraud or incompetence allowed these payments.
SSA responds to data concerns
The SSA issued a statement addressing these claims. It acknowledged that its records contain individuals without recorded death dates. However, it clarified that this does not mean they are still receiving payments.
According to the SSA, maintaining accurate records is a priority, and outdated records do not automatically indicate fraud.
Ongoing efforts to fix outdated records
Since Trump’s speech, the SSA has reported progress in correcting data inconsistencies. Officials claim they have made strides in verifying and updating beneficiary records for individuals aged 100 or older.
Additionally, the SSA has faced long-standing issues with outdated records.
A significant challenge lies in its use of the COBOL programming language.
The outdated system does not reliably format dates. As a result, missing birthdates sometimes default to a placeholder date more than 150 years ago.
Inspection reports from March 2023 and July 2024 confirmed that the SSA lacked a proper system for logging death dates.
The agency has opted to stop payments for anyone aged 115 or older rather than overhauling its system, which would cost an estimated $9 million.
Social Security’s Process for Identifying Deceased Beneficiaries
The SSA relies on data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. If a beneficiary has not accessed healthcare in three or more years, the SSA prioritizes verification. For individuals aged 90 or older, the agency attempts direct interviews to confirm they are alive.
If the SSA determines someone is deceased, it halts payments immediately. Suspected fraud cases are reported to the Office of the Inspector General.
Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, thanked Trump for highlighting the issue. He emphasized the agency’s commitment to eliminating fraud, waste, and outdated records.
Dudek stated, “We are actively correcting inconsistencies with missing dates of death and remain committed to ensuring program integrity.”
While Trump’s claims have drawn attention to Social Security’s record-keeping challenges, the SSA insists that these data issues do not equate to fraudulent payments. Efforts continue to modernize and improve the accuracy of the system.