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By Aliss Higham
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The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has provided an update regarding the "major cleanup" of death records the government spending task force is conducting at the Social Security Administration (SSA).
On X, formerly Twitter, DOGE and its unofficial head Elon Musk confirmed that more than 7 million Social Security numbers with no registered confirmation of death have now been updated in SSA systems, thanks to DOGE work at the federal agency.
It follows a previous update from Musk earlier this month, in which he confirmed that 3.2 million Social Security number holders had been marked as deceased.
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Why It Matters
Musk, who is leading President Donald Trump's ongoing cuts to federal spending, in February said millions of people well above the age of 100 could be collecting Social Security benefits.
However, the SSA has suggested the figures have been misread and those millions refer to many not receiving benefits but "do not have a date of death associated with their record." Its published statistics show of 67 million receiving Social Security benefits, approximately 53,000—about 0.1 percent—are centenarians.
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What To Know
The number of records updated, according to DOGE, has risen from 3.2 million on March 18, to just over 7 million a week later.
It includes some 1.2 million registered as being between 120 and 129 years old; 2.4 million aged from 130 to 139; and another 2.8 million recorded as being more than 140 years old.
Musk first brought attention to the SSA's records on deceased Social Security number holders in February. He posted a spreadsheet of data showing "the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE!"
"Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security," Musk wrote.
The information appears to originate from the SSA's Numident system, which has maintained records of all Social Security numbers since their introduction in 1936.
In a review conducted in March 2015, the SSA reported that death records had not been updated for 6.5 million individuals over the age of 112 who were likely deceased.
However, the SSA has confirmed that these Social Security numbers are not in receipt of benefits. The agency automatically halts benefit payments for anyone listed as 115 years or older.
What People Are Saying
On March 5, the SSA released a statement clarifying: "The data referenced in the media pertain to individuals whose records lack a recorded date of death. While these individuals may not be receiving benefits, it is crucial for the agency to uphold accurate and complete records."
Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "Social Security fraud certainly exists, but the claims it's rampant because a database had many recipients who were supposedly aged at well over 100 years old isn't evidence it's widespread.
"More than anything, the findings should alert the new administration to how antiquated many of the databases of government agencies are that normally produce errors such as these."
What Happens Next
DOGE said on X that it continues to update the records, writing: "Another ~5 million to go."
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