The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains records for millions of individuals over the age of 100. However, the vast majority of these individuals are not receiving benefits, despite claims that large sums are being paid to non-existent recipients.
Trump’s Statement on Social Security Data
During his first address to Congress in his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump made bold claims about Social Security payments to the elderly, citing an alarming number of centenarians in government databases.
“Believe it or not, government databases list 4.7 million Social Security members from people aged 100 to 109 years old. It lists 3.6 million people from ages 110 to 119. I don’t know any of them. I know some people who are rather elderly but not quite that elderly. 3.47 million people from ages 120 to 129. 3.9 million people from ages 130 to 139. 3.5 million people from ages 140 to 149… 1.3 million people from ages 150 to 159, and over 130,000 people, according to the Social Security databases, are over 160 years old,” he said.
Trump further claimed that hundreds of people older than 220 were still receiving Social Security checks, and that SSA records listed one individual at 360 years old. He argued that improper payments were contributing to financial strain on the Social Security system, prompting his administration to launch an investigation.
Fact-Checking the Claims
Despite the alarming numbers cited by Trump, no credible evidence supports the claim that millions of centenarians are actively receiving Social Security benefits. A report by NBC and findings from the SSA Inspector General confirm that while SSA records do contain individuals over 100 years old, these are largely database anomalies, not active beneficiaries.
- According to a 2023 Social Security Inspector General report, 18.9 million individuals were listed as being 100 years or older without a date of death recorded.
- However, only 44,000 of them were receiving benefits.
- A July 2024 SSA report revealed that from 2015 to 2022, only 0.84% of Social Security payments were deemed improper—and most of these were overpayments, not fraudulent payments to deceased individuals.
- The actual number of people over age 99 receiving retirement benefits in December 2024 was 89,106, far lower than the millions claimed.
Explanation of Data Errors
Lee Dudek, the new acting commissioner of Social Security, explained the discrepancy, stating:
“The reported data are people in our records with a Social Security number who do not have a date of death associated with their record. These individuals are not necessarily receiving benefits.”
Updating SSA records, particularly old ones, can be a costly and lengthy process, leading to outdated information remaining in the system. However, there is no evidence to suggest that fraudulent payments on the scale alleged by Trump are occurring.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why does the Social Security Administration have millions of people over 100 in its records?
The SSA database includes individuals without a recorded date of death, which can happen when families or institutions fail to report it. These individuals are not necessarily receiving benefits.
2. How many people over 100 actually receive Social Security payments?
As of December 2024, only 89,106 people over 99 years old were actively receiving retirement benefits.
3. Is fraud in Social Security payments a widespread issue?
No, fraud is not a significant issue. From 2015 to 2022, only 0.84% of Social Security payments were deemed improper, and most of these were overpayments due to administrative errors rather than fraud.
4. What steps does the SSA take to prevent fraudulent payments?
The SSA routinely audits its records, cross-checks with other government agencies, and requires proof of life verification for beneficiaries over a certain age.
5. Has Trump’s administration launched an investigation into Social Security fraud?
While Trump has claimed his administration is probing these issues, past SSA reports have consistently shown that improper payments are a small fraction of total payouts.
The claims about millions of centenarians receiving Social Security payments lack factual support. While outdated records exist in the SSA database, there is no large-scale fraud involving benefits being paid to the deceased. The real issue lies in database maintenance rather than fraudulent activity.