5 sources·Politics

Experts Dispute Musk's Social Security Claims, Clarifying Misunderstandings on Benefit Payments

Elon Musk's assertion that millions of dead individuals receive Social Security benefits is contradicted by Social Security experts and accurate data interpretations.

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While it is true that improper payments have been made, including some to dead people, the numbers thrown out by Trump and Musk are overstated and misrepresent Social Security data.
New Social Security chief contradicts claims that millions of dead people are getting payouts
Associated Press·2M
Reliable
This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
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Center
This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
Musk is misreading the agency's records system.
Musk misreads Social Security data, millions of dead people not getting benefits, experts say
ABC News·2M
Reliable
This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
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Center
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Recent findings have placed the Social Security Administration (SSA) under scrutiny, as data reveals that more than 20 million people over the age of 100 are still listed in its system.
Social Security knew millions in system were dead, but are not receiving benefits
Straight Arrow News·2M
Reliable
This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
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Center
This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
Cleaning up the program's databases and rooting out fraud is worthwhile, but the problem with Social Security is not a secret.
Social Security's insolvency is driven by benefits for the living, not fraud by the dead
Reason·2M
Mostly Reliable
This source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.
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Center
This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
The claims by Musk and Trump will make people think the solutions to the government’s financial problems are simpler than they appear.
Debunked: Trump And Musk's Myth Of Social Security For Tens Of Millions Of Dead People
HuffPost·2M
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This source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.
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Leans Left
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Updated: Feb 19th, 2025, 6:21 PM ET

Summary

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Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s claims about millions of deceased individuals receiving Social Security benefits have been addressed by experts clarifying the misinterpretations of SSA data, highlighting that only a minuscule percentage of beneficiaries are over 100 years old. Reports indicate massive discrepancies in the SSA's databases; however, the projected fraud levels are overstated, with less than 1% of payments categorized as improper. The Social Security Administration faces challenges in updating its records due to budget constraints, despite suggestions from audits to correct these flaws. The core issue at hand lies in managing payments to living beneficiaries rather than deceased individuals.

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