President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are pushing to eliminate “fraud, waste, and abuse” in the federal government. However, experts say their claims that millions of deceased Americans are receiving Social Security benefits are misleading.
The controversy began last week in the Oval Office when Musk spoke to reporters about his agency’s review of government programs. He claimed to have discovered “crazy things” in the Social Security system, including people listed as being “150 years old.”
Since then, Musk has doubled down on his claims through social media posts. He shared screenshots of what he said was Social Security data showing millions of deceased individuals still marked as “alive.”
In one post, Musk joked that “maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security.” The statement quickly gained traction among his followers, fueling speculation about widespread fraud.
However, Social Security experts and government officials say Musk is misinterpreting the data. They argue that while errors exist in federal records, there is no evidence that millions of dead people are receiving benefits.
A Social Security Administration (SSA) official told ABC News that outdated records sometimes list deceased individuals as alive. However, the agency has systems in place to prevent benefits from being paid to the deceased.
Mark Hinkle, an SSA spokesperson, stated that the agency works with government and private databases to update records regularly. He added that cases of improper payments to deceased individuals are rare and quickly corrected.
A 2022 report from the SSA’s inspector general found that mistaken payments to deceased individuals accounted for less than 0.01% of total benefits. Fraud involving Social Security numbers of the deceased is also monitored closely.
Policy experts warn that exaggerating the problem could lead to unnecessary policy changes. They say focusing on nonexistent fraud could take attention away from legitimate issues facing Social Security, such as funding shortfalls.
Democrats and some Republicans have criticized Musk for spreading misinformation. They argue that Social Security’s real challenges require serious solutions, not misleading claims about fraud.
Musk has defended his statements, insisting the government is not being transparent about its inefficiencies. He claims his team will continue investigating and pushing for reforms.
Trump has not directly commented on Musk’s Social Security claims, but he has repeatedly emphasized his commitment to cutting government waste. His administration has backed efforts to tighten fraud prevention across federal programs.
Social Security advocates worry that these claims could be used to justify cuts to benefits. They fear that misinformation could erode public trust in the system and make it harder to protect future funding.
Congressional leaders have called for a review of Musk’s findings to ensure accuracy. Some lawmakers say they are open to reforms but caution against basing policy decisions on misleading data.
As the debate continues, experts stress that Social Security fraud should be addressed with facts, not speculation. They urge policymakers to focus on real challenges instead of chasing exaggerated claims.
