Musk and Trump’s Claims of Social Security Fraud Largely Unsupported by Evidence

Experts and SSA data refute allegations of millions of deceased individuals improperly receiving benefits, highlighting database quirks and limited fraud cases.

Elon Musk and President Donald Trump have claimed that millions of deceased individuals, including centenarians, are fraudulently receiving Social Security payments, but these claims lack evidence and misinterpret SSA data.
Experts explain that the figures cited by Musk likely stem from outdated database entries, including Social Security numbers without death records, rather than actual benefit recipients.
The Social Security Administration confirmed that fewer than 44,000 centenarians were receiving benefits as of 2023, a number consistent with demographic data and not indicative of widespread fraud.
Improper payments, including to deceased individuals, account for less than 1% of Social Security disbursements, with most errors attributed to overpayments to living beneficiaries, according to SSA audits.
Critics warn that exaggerated claims about fraud could undermine public trust in Social Security, which provides essential support to over 68 million Americans.