Social Security Cleanup

Debunking the Social Security Audit: 12.4 Million Dead People Getting Checks?

A viral claim suggests 12.4 million dead people over 120 years old are still receiving Social Security checks. But is this true? Let’s dive into the facts behind the headlines.

What the Audit Actually Found

In May 2025, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reported a cleanup of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Numident database. Approximately 12.3 million records of individuals listed as 120 years or older were marked as deceased. These were outdated entries, often from decades ago when death records weren’t consistently updated.

Contrary to sensational claims, these individuals weren’t necessarily receiving payments. The SSA’s database had simply accumulated old records due to historical inefficiencies.

Were Dead People Really Getting Checks?

The claim that 12.4 million deceased people were actively receiving Social Security benefits is a misrepresentation. A 2023 SSA Inspector General report clarified that only about 44,000 of the 18.9 million records for people born in 1920 or earlier (aged 100+) were receiving benefits. This aligns with the estimated 101,000 living centenarians in the U.S. in 2024.

Most of the 12.3 million records were inactive, meaning no checks were being sent. The SSA has also automatically stopped payments for those listed as 115+ since 2015, further reducing the likelihood of widespread payments to the deceased.

Improper Payments: The Real Numbers

While improper payments to deceased individuals have occurred, the scale is far smaller than claimed:

• A 2021 SSA report noted $298 million in improper payments to about 24,000 deceased beneficiaries, with $214 million unrecovered.
• A 2024 report estimated $71.8 billion in improper payments from 2015–2022, mostly overpayments to living people, not widespread fraud involving the dead.

These figures show errors exist, but they don’t support the idea of millions of dead people receiving checks.

Who’s Been Charged?

Despite the viral claims, there’s no public evidence of specific individuals being charged or convicted in connection with the 12.3 million records marked as deceased. The cleanup was about fixing administrative errors, not prosecuting widespread fraud.

One isolated case involved a woman named Rogers, who fraudulently cashed $128,656 in her deceased mother’s Social Security checks over 12 years. However, this case isn’t tied to the 120+ age group cleanup.

Where Are the Names and Evidence?