Treasury finds $31M in Social Security payments to dead people

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The U.S. Treasury Department has recently uncovered a staggering $31 million in Social Security payments mistakenly sent to deceased individuals. This discovery was made possible through a five-month pilot program that granted the Treasury temporary access to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Full Death Master File. Containing over 142 million records dating back to 1899, this file has proven essential in identifying and recovering improper payments.

David Lebryk, the Treasury’s Fiscal Assistant Secretary, emphasized the significance of this finding, stating, “These results are just the tip of the iceberg.” The Treasury projects it will recover more than $215 million during the three-year access period, running from December 2023 through 2026. Lebryk stressed the need for Congress to grant permanent access to the Full Death Master File to reduce fraud, improve program integrity, and safeguard taxpayer dollars.

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The pilot program’s success underscores the importance of accurate and up-to-date death records in preventing improper payments. The SSA maintains the most comprehensive federal database of deceased individuals, and its Full Death Master File is invaluable for various federal agencies. The Treasury’s ability to access this file has already yielded a 139% increase in the total number of death matches, demonstrating the program’s effectiveness.

Despite the program’s success, improper payments to deceased individuals remain a significant issue. The Treasury’s findings suggest a considerable amount of wasted money due to outdated or inaccurate records. This inefficiency not only represents a loss of taxpayer dollars but also highlights the need for robust measures to prevent such errors in the future.

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The implications of these findings extend beyond the immediate recovery of funds, raising broader questions about the efficiency and integrity of government programs. The need for ongoing efforts to reduce waste and fraud is clear. As the Treasury continues to recover improper payments, it is evident that more needs to be done to ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively and responsibly.

Sources:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/us-retrieves-31-million-in-improper-social-security-payments-to-dead-people/ar-AA1xgLEw

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/us-recovers-31-million-in-social-security-payments-to-dead-people/ar-AA1xfVDh

https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/treasury-department-recovers-31-million-social-security-payments-went

https://www.wcvb.com/article/us-recovers-social-security-payments-deceased/63433749

https://www.klove.com/news/u.s.%20&%20world/federal-government-recovers-31m-that-was-send-to-dead-people-53474

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/politics/2025/01/15/us-recovers-31-million-in-social-security-payments-to-dead-people/

https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/1880039146623824350


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