A shocking claim by former President Donald Trump has many people wondering: Is Social Security really paying millions to people over 140 years old? In a speech, Trump said that 3.5 million people between 140 and 149 years old were still listed as Social Security beneficiaries. He even claimed that one person was 360 years old! But is this true? Let’s break it down.
Did Social Security Really Pay People Over 140?
Trump’s statement got a lot of attention, but the reality is more complicated. The Social Security Administration (SSA) does have records of people over 140 years old, but that does not mean they are receiving payments. These individuals are in the system due to outdated record-keeping, not because they are cashing checks.
Why Are There 140-Year-Olds in the SSA System?
The problem comes from how Social Security databases store information. The system was built using the COBOL programming language, which doesn’t always record birth dates properly. When birthdates are missing or incorrect, the system sometimes assigns default numbers—making some people appear over 140 years old.
Is This a Case of Government Waste?
While Trump suggested that taxpayer money is going to these individuals, SSA officials clarified that these “super-old” people are not necessarily receiving benefits. Instead, their records remain in the system due to errors or missing information.
How Does SSA Prevent Payments to the Deceased?
To stop payments from going to deceased individuals, SSA:
- Stops payments for anyone over 115 years old.
- Checks Medicare records to see if people have used medical services in the last three years.
- Prioritizes people over 90 years old for verification.
If SSA finds that a person is no longer alive, they stop payments and report possible fraud to the Inspector General’s Office.
Why Doesn’t SSA Just Fix the Database?
Updating the Social Security database to remove these errors would cost an estimated $9 million. Because of budget limitations, SSA decided not to update the system, allowing old and incorrect records to remain in place. However, this does not mean these people are receiving money.
Does This Mean There Is No Fraud?
While these errors don’t mean massive fraud is happening, there are still cases where Social Security payments go to deceased individuals. However, SSA actively works to prevent this by verifying beneficiaries’ status.
Conclusion
Despite Trump’s claim, there is no solid evidence that millions of dollars are being paid to people over 140. The issue stems from outdated databases rather than actual payments. SSA has safeguards in place to prevent fraud, and while errors exist, the agency is working to minimize them. Still, the debate over government waste and Social Security continues, and many believe better record-keeping could help prevent similar concerns in the future.
