Millions Wasted on the Dead? Government Cracks Down on Shocking Social Security Fraud

Treasury Recovers Millions in Overpayments to Deceased Individuals

Washington, D.C. – The Treasury Department has successfully recovered over $31 million in Social Security payments erroneously made to deceased individuals. This success stems from a five-month pilot program authorized by Congress, granting the Treasury temporary access to the Social Security Administration’s “Full Death Master File.”  

• Combatting Fraud: The pilot program, part of a 2021 appropriations bill, aims to reduce fraud and improve the integrity of government programs.  
• Accessing Critical Data: The Full Death Master File, containing over 142 million records dating back to 1899, provides crucial information on deceased individuals.
• Significant Recovery: The Treasury anticipates recovering over $215 million during the three-year access period, which runs from December 2023 to 2026.  
• “Just the Tip of the Iceberg”: Treasury Fiscal Assistant Secretary David Lebryk emphasized that these initial results represent a fraction of the potential savings.