Fact Check: "Millions of people are using fake social security numbers"
What We Know
Recent claims made by public figures, including former President Donald Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk, suggest that "millions of people" are using fake Social Security numbers, particularly in the context of alleged fraud involving payments to individuals over 100 years old. However, these claims are misleading. The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains a database that includes many individuals who are over 100 years old but does not have a recorded death date. This has led to confusion, as many of these individuals are not actually receiving benefits. According to a report from the SSA's inspector general, nearly 19 million individuals in this category do not receive Social Security payments, and the agency has stated that "almost none" of the number holders discussed in the reports currently receive SSA payments (AP News, New York Times).
Analysis
The claims made by Trump and Musk are based on misinterpretations of Social Security data. While it is true that there are millions of records for individuals over 100 years old without a recorded death, this does not equate to those individuals receiving benefits. The SSA has confirmed that the number of people actually receiving Social Security payments who are over 100 is significantly lower—estimated at around 90,000 (New York Times).
The SSA's database issues arise from outdated software systems that do not accurately reflect the death status of individuals, leading to inflated numbers in the records. However, this does not imply that these individuals are fraudulently collecting benefits. In fact, the SSA has mechanisms to stop payments to individuals over 115 years old, and improper payments due to fraud account for less than 1% of total benefits paid out (AP News, FactCheck.org).
Critics of the claims, including experts from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, argue that the issue is being exaggerated for political purposes. They emphasize that the actual problem of improper payments is much smaller than suggested and that the focus should be on more significant issues within the Social Security system (New York Times, Snopes).
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that "millions of people are using fake social security numbers" is misleading and exaggerated. While there are indeed millions of records of individuals over 100 years old without a recorded death, the SSA has clarified that almost none of these individuals are receiving benefits. The actual number of beneficiaries over 100 is around 90,000, and the agency has mechanisms in place to prevent fraudulent payments. Therefore, the assertion lacks factual basis and misrepresents the situation regarding Social Security payments.
