Are Millions of Dead People Getting Social Security? Here’s What the Data Really Says

Social Security Payments: Proper vs. Improper

In recent months, President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk have publicly claimed that millions of deceased individuals are still collecting Social Security benefits. In a speech to Congress on March 3, 2025, Trump alleged that millions of Social Security recipients over 100 years old remain in the system, implying massive fraud and waste. Musk, in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), suggested that inefficiencies in government databases were enabling fraud, adding unnecessary strain on Social Security funds.

However, is there any truth to these claims? A thorough analysis of government reports, independent audits, and expert opinions suggests otherwise.

Read more: Social Security Fraud? The Truth Behind Trump and Musk’s Allegations

Fact-Check: What the Official Reports Say

Contrary to these allegations, independent investigations and government audits show no evidence of widespread fraud or millions of deceased beneficiaries receiving payments.

1. The 2023 Inspector General Report on "100+ Year Old Beneficiaries"

One of the primary reports debunking this claim comes from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the Social SecurityAdministration (SSA). In 2023, the OIG conducted an extensive review of Social Security records and found that 18.9 million individuals aged 100 or older were listed in the SSA’s system without official death information (SSA Inspector General Report, 2023).