Fact Check: "US citizens who are over the age of 120 are collecting social security benefits."
What We Know
The claim that US citizens over the age of 120 are collecting Social Security benefits is misleading. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), individuals can begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but full benefits are only available upon reaching full retirement age, which ranges between 66 and 67 depending on the year of birth. Furthermore, the SSA does not provide benefits to individuals who are deceased, and there is no evidence to support that anyone over the age of 120 is currently alive, let alone receiving benefits.
Recent reports indicate that the Social Security Administration is actively working to clean up its records, which includes removing entries for individuals listed as being over 120 years old, many of whom are likely deceased. For instance, a report from The Hill mentions that the acting Social Security commissioner clarified that the agency is aware of inaccuracies in its records regarding individuals over 100 years old receiving benefits.
Additionally, a study published by the Center for Retirement Research states that there are no verified cases of individuals aged 150 or older receiving Social Security benefits, further supporting the improbability of the claim.
Analysis
The sources consulted provide a clear picture of the eligibility criteria for Social Security benefits and the age limits involved. The SSA's official guidelines specify that benefits are only available to living individuals who meet the age requirements. The claim about individuals over 120 collecting benefits lacks credible evidence and contradicts the established policies of the SSA.
The reliability of the sources is high, as they include official statements from the SSA and reputable news outlets. The SSA is a government agency responsible for administering Social Security, making their information authoritative. In contrast, claims made by less reputable sources or those lacking verification, such as sensational headlines or unverified social media posts, should be treated with skepticism.
Furthermore, the assertion that "tens of millions of dead people" are receiving benefits, as mentioned in a news article, highlights the ongoing issues with record-keeping but does not substantiate the claim that living individuals over 120 are receiving benefits. The SSA's ongoing cleanup efforts, as reported by Fox Business, further indicate that the agency is aware of and addressing these discrepancies.
Conclusion
Verdict: False. The claim that US citizens over the age of 120 are collecting Social Security benefits is not supported by credible evidence. The Social Security Administration's policies and ongoing record cleanup efforts indicate that individuals over this age are unlikely to be receiving benefits, as they are generally deceased. The absence of verified cases and the SSA's clear eligibility criteria further reinforce this conclusion.
Sources
- Benefits Planner: Retirement | Retirement Age and Benefit Reduction - SSA
- See your Full Retirement Age (FRA) | SSA - The United States Social ...
- PDF Retirement Benefits - The United States Social Security Administration
- 150-Year-Olds Aren't Getting Social Security – Here’s a Better ...
- Benefit types | SSA - The United States Social Security Administration
- Tens of millions of dead people aren't getting Social ...
- Social Security head clarifies claims about people over 100 receiving ...
- DOGE clears out bad Social Security data, marking 9.9M ...
