Issues Arise in Social Security Administration Regarding False Deceased Reports
Lenny Glasgow, an employee at the Social Security Administration for 15 years, has recently encountered some unusual cases—it seems there are reports of individuals who are, well, not actually dead. In his Schenectady, New York office, he shared with KFF Health News that there were instances in which records showed people as deceased when, in fact, they were alive. This means employees often have to ‘revive’ these individuals to ensure they can still receive their benefits.
Glasgow noted that this trend of erroneous reports has increased in upstate New York. As a member of the US Government Employee Federation, which represents around 42,000 Social Security employees, he expressed concern about the implications of these errors.
Martin O’Malley, a former head of the Social Security Administration near the end of the Biden administration, echoed similar sentiments. At a town hall meeting in Wisconsin, he heard from attendees who had friends mistakenly recorded as deceased.
This isn’t just a minor inconvenience, according to Glasgow. Other agencies depend on Social Security numbers for various operations. Being marked as deceased can directly impact individuals’ bank accounts, job prospects, and overall societal participation.
O’Malley emphasized the severity of the matter by stating that these errors effectively disrupt financial stability for many people.
Concerns have grown around the Social Security Administration’s response to these false death reports, especially following new leadership initiatives aimed at updating their databases. Thousands of Social Security numbers have been misclassified as deceased. Reports have indicated that some immigrant records were also purged from commerce systems, seemingly pushing for self-promotion amongst those affected.
Glasgow mentioned that in April, an email was circulated among SSA employees outlining procedures for correcting these misclassifications. He questioned why proper verification wasn’t conducted beforehand.
The situation appears to be part of a larger effort initiated during the Trump administration aimed at combating fraud and modernizing the system. However, numerous interviews with beneficiaries and advocates suggest that these changes have complicated the agency’s primary functions.
For instance, Lisaceda, a Philadelphia resident battling cancer, has faced challenges with her 24-year-old nephew’s Social Security Disability Insurance. They’ve had to deal with issues like a change of address and unexplained deductions from benefits. The complexity of navigating the system has forced them into a tedious process of phone calls and in-person visits.
Before 2025, dealing with these administrative issues was comparatively straightforward, her lawyer stated. Now, it feels overwhelming. Lisaceda has expressed her fears that if benefits were to stop, her nephew could face homelessness.
Technical difficulties are contributing to these issues as well. Information from whistleblowers suggests that the processing of data has been failing more frequently, leading to delays and even interruptions in payments, as noted by the House Oversight Committee.
Experts warn that the ongoing technological problems might cascade into more significant issues, disrupting the critical funding that over 70 million Americans depend on. Recent surveys revealed that a troubling number of beneficiaries couldn’t meet basic needs if their payments were suddenly halted.
Carolyn Villers from the Massachusetts Senior Action Council reported delays in payments for some members, a rare occurrence in her two decades of experience. Instances of this nature seem to be multiplying, raising alarms for advocates and attorneys who work closely with Social Security beneficiaries.
When questions were posed to the Social Security Administration, officials redirected inquiries to the White House. A spokesperson reiterated the commitment to making government operations more efficient while asserting that benefits for recipients would not be jeopardized.
Complaints from the Arizona Attorney General’s office regarding payment delays have notably increased. Similarly, Connecticut saw a near doubling of complaints relating to Social Security in just a year.
Lawyers familiar with beneficiary representation have noted a rise in errors and inefficiencies, especially as experienced staff within the SSA have left the agency. A lawyer from West Virginia noted a higher frequency of mistakes occurring.
For some individuals, the simplest transactions have turned complicated. One case involved a woman in Missouri who discovered her scheduled payments were missing, and despite presenting documentation to SSA representatives, her claims couldn’t be resolved.
Confusion around records has become commonplace, with many instances where clients, despite winning appeals, find no record of their reinstated payments.
Doubts around the broader motives of the agency’s restructuring efforts are now emerging, particularly as around 7,000 employees have reportedly been let go, with estimates suggesting more will depart soon. Workloads are increasing, morale is declining, and the agency’s essential functions are suffering as a result.
This decline in staffing is particularly impactful at local payment centers, where critical case management occurs. If these teams become overwhelmed, the quality of service inevitably deteriorates.
As issues continue to escalate, beneficiaries are discovering gaps in essential programs like Medicare, where deductibles and payments are being mishandled, potentially leading to unnecessary financial strain.
Technology failures, including regular system outages at the SSA, have become a daily obstacle, making tasks increasingly challenging, as expressed by Glasgow. These ongoing struggles raise concerns that inefficiency could push the agency closer to privatization, something he finds troubling.
