Mistakenly declared dead? Social Security errors cause disruptions for some recipients
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Imagine walking into your local bank or opening your mail, only to find out that, according to the government, you're no longer alive.
It might sound like the start of a mystery novel, but for some Americans, it’s an all-too-real and unsettling experience.
Across the country, people are being mistakenly marked as deceased in Social Security records—and the consequences can be both stressful and costly.
At The GrayVine, we believe in keeping our readers informed, especially when government systems fail in ways that affect everyday life.
Here’s what’s going on, how it’s happening, and what you can do if it happens to you or someone you love.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has been reviewing its records to catch outdated or suspicious entries.
One recent push came from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an agency associated with Elon Musk.
The effort, called the “Are You Alive” initiative, was meant to prevent fraud and stop payments to people who are no longer living—particularly those listed as 120 years old or older.
But in cleaning up these records, the system has made some mistakes.
Real, living individuals have been incorrectly flagged as deceased, leading to major disruptions in their benefits and personal lives.
The SSA has since reminded staff how to handle these so-called "death correction cases" and stated that safeguards are in place.
Still, reports suggest these mistaken cases are on the rise.
John Reid III, a 73-year-old retiree from Georgia, found out about his “death” when his Medicare prescription plan mailed condolences to his family.
That was followed by halted payments from both Social Security and his pension.
Reid and his wife had to rely on credit cards and their savings to get by.
Despite visiting his local SSA office multiple times and providing proof he was alive, Reid still hasn’t received the $6,500 in missed payments.
“I have lost all faith in the federal government at this juncture,” he said.
He’s not alone.
Ned Johnson from Seattle spent eight hours at a Social Security office just to get his benefits turned back on.
Others, including immigrants mistakenly flagged by Homeland Security, have had to take similar steps to clear their names and reinstate their records.
If this happens to you, it’s called a “resurrection” process—but there’s nothing easy about it.
To fix the error, you must visit a Social Security office in person with proper identification such as a passport or driver’s license.
The staff then verifies your identity, investigates the error, and corrects your record.
This process can take time—sometimes up to an hour per case—and may delay help for other people waiting in line.
Some SSA employees have noted that they’re seeing more of these mistaken death cases than ever before.
One worker in New York said, “The increased amount of people who are alive and have to bring in their ID is cause for concern.”
The SSA says it's taking the problem seriously.
It has issued internal reminders about handling mistaken death cases and emphasized restoring payments and correcting records as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, DOGE’s “Are You Alive” project has been paused by court order, with critics arguing that the process was rushed and too aggressive.
While the intent was to reduce fraud, some says it causes hardship for real people.
If you or someone you know is mistakenly declared dead, here’s what to do:
While the SSA’s efforts to modernize its records may be well-intentioned, mistakes like these show just how important it is to balance efficiency with accuracy.
If you rely on Social Security benefits or know someone who does, staying informed and checking for any unusual disruptions in your payments is more important than ever.
Read next: Could tariffs boost or shrink your Social Security COLA?
Have you—or someone close to you—ever had to deal with something like this? Share your story in the comments. Your experience might help someone else navigate a similar situation!
It might sound like the start of a mystery novel, but for some Americans, it’s an all-too-real and unsettling experience.
Across the country, people are being mistakenly marked as deceased in Social Security records—and the consequences can be both stressful and costly.
At The GrayVine, we believe in keeping our readers informed, especially when government systems fail in ways that affect everyday life.
Here’s what’s going on, how it’s happening, and what you can do if it happens to you or someone you love.
Why are people being declared dead when they’re still very much alive?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has been reviewing its records to catch outdated or suspicious entries.
One recent push came from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an agency associated with Elon Musk.
The effort, called the “Are You Alive” initiative, was meant to prevent fraud and stop payments to people who are no longer living—particularly those listed as 120 years old or older.
But in cleaning up these records, the system has made some mistakes.
Real, living individuals have been incorrectly flagged as deceased, leading to major disruptions in their benefits and personal lives.
The SSA has since reminded staff how to handle these so-called "death correction cases" and stated that safeguards are in place.
Still, reports suggest these mistaken cases are on the rise.
Also read: New Social Security feature could save you time—but there’s a catch
The real impact of being mistakenly declared dead
John Reid III, a 73-year-old retiree from Georgia, found out about his “death” when his Medicare prescription plan mailed condolences to his family.
That was followed by halted payments from both Social Security and his pension.
Reid and his wife had to rely on credit cards and their savings to get by.
Despite visiting his local SSA office multiple times and providing proof he was alive, Reid still hasn’t received the $6,500 in missed payments.
“I have lost all faith in the federal government at this juncture,” he said.
He’s not alone.
Ned Johnson from Seattle spent eight hours at a Social Security office just to get his benefits turned back on.
Others, including immigrants mistakenly flagged by Homeland Security, have had to take similar steps to clear their names and reinstate their records.
Also read: Reminder: Who’s getting up to $5,108 from Social Security this week?
What happens if you’re declared dead?
If this happens to you, it’s called a “resurrection” process—but there’s nothing easy about it.
To fix the error, you must visit a Social Security office in person with proper identification such as a passport or driver’s license.
The staff then verifies your identity, investigates the error, and corrects your record.
This process can take time—sometimes up to an hour per case—and may delay help for other people waiting in line.
Some SSA employees have noted that they’re seeing more of these mistaken death cases than ever before.
One worker in New York said, “The increased amount of people who are alive and have to bring in their ID is cause for concern.”
Also read: Will your Social Security checks get bigger? The truth behind the GOP tax bill
What’s being done to fix the issue?
The SSA says it's taking the problem seriously.
It has issued internal reminders about handling mistaken death cases and emphasized restoring payments and correcting records as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, DOGE’s “Are You Alive” project has been paused by court order, with critics arguing that the process was rushed and too aggressive.
While the intent was to reduce fraud, some says it causes hardship for real people.
What to do if it happens to you
If you or someone you know is mistakenly declared dead, here’s what to do:
- Visit your local Social Security office as soon as possible. Bring several forms of ID—passport, driver’s license, or birth certificate—to verify your identity.
- Notify your bank and creditors to prevent issues with account access or credit disruptions.
- Stay in regular contact with the SSA to follow up on the status of your case and any owed payments.
- Seek legal advice if you’re facing serious financial or emotional consequences due to the error.
While the SSA’s efforts to modernize its records may be well-intentioned, mistakes like these show just how important it is to balance efficiency with accuracy.
If you rely on Social Security benefits or know someone who does, staying informed and checking for any unusual disruptions in your payments is more important than ever.
Read next: Could tariffs boost or shrink your Social Security COLA?
Have you—or someone close to you—ever had to deal with something like this? Share your story in the comments. Your experience might help someone else navigate a similar situation!
