Key Takeaways:

• Elon Musk and Donald Trump falsely claim millions of dead Americans over 100 years old are receiving Social Security benefits.
• Experts assert the misuse of data from the Social Security Administration, clarifying that only a fraction of centenarians receive benefits.
• The Social Security Administration and related audits have long acknowledged inaccurate data concerning deceased individuals but state that fraud is not widespread.

In recent statements, both Elon Musk and Donald Trump have sparked controversy with claims suggesting that millions of deceased individuals, allegedly over the age of 100, are collecting Social Security payments. These assertions, originating from statements made by Musk during a press conference with Trump, have been met with significant pushback from experts in social security policy. Musk noted discovering "crazy things" in the system and went as far as to joke that perhaps “Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security,” implying a scandalous level of fraud permeating the agency’s records.

Trump echoed these dubious claims, insisting at a news briefing that the government is losing "millions and millions" to fraudulent beneficiaries over 100 years old. However, experts from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and economic policy sectors have categorically rejected these statements as a misinterpretation of existing data. According to the SSA, there are only approximately 90,000 beneficiaries aged 99 or older presently receiving Social Security retirement benefits, significantly lower than the "millions" cited by Musk and Trump. This figure is even less than the estimated living centenarians in the U.S., which numbers around 101,000 as of 2024.

Experts have clarified that the data Musk referred to is derived from a database called Numident, which records individuals assigned a Social Security number but lacks crucial details such as the individual's death date. Notably, a 2023 report from the SSA’s Inspector General found that nearly 19 million records exist of individuals born prior to 1920 who are noted to be alive but are not currently receiving benefits. Source

Moreover, despite the presence of outdated records, fraud in the Social Security system is reportedly minor, with SSA audits revealing improper payments limited to about 1% of total disbursements. Reports show that from 2015 to 2022, the SSA paid approximately $71.8 billion in improper payments; however, these were largely overpayments to living beneficiaries, not deceased individuals. Most improper payments stem from administrative errors or changes in beneficiary circumstances, rather than fraudulent activity, as emphasized by Kathleen Romig of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and other experts.

As evidenced by calculations, the SSA has established safeguards to prevent deceased individuals from receiving benefits. The agency automatically suspends payments to anyone listed as older than 115 years and regularly checks that ongoing beneficiaries utilize their Medicare benefits, thus reducing the likelihood of payments continuing post-mortem.

Elon Musk and Donald Trump's framing of the issue has not only added misinformation to an already complex subject but may also mislead the public regarding the actual dangers and challenges facing the Social Security system. Experts argue that while vigilance against potential fraud is important, focusing on exaggerated claims diverts attention from the real issues that need reform.

For detailed information, refer to the original article on ABC News.