US Recovers $31 Million in Social Security Payments to Deceased Individuals

Washington: So, the U.S. government just managed to get back over $31 million in Social Security payments that were mistakenly sent to people who have passed away. It’s a big deal, and one official even said it’s just the beginning of what they might find.

This recovery is part of a pilot program that started after Congress allowed the Treasury Department to access a comprehensive death database. This database, known as the “Full Death Master File,” has records going back to 1899 and includes over 142 million names.

The Treasury thinks they can recover more than $215 million during their three-year access to this file, which runs until 2026. David Lebryk, the Treasury’s Fiscal Assistant Secretary, mentioned that these results are just scratching the surface. He’s pushing Congress to give them full access to help cut down on fraud and protect taxpayer money.

This initiative is also in line with some of the promises made during Donald Trump’s campaign. He’s got some big names, like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, on board to help streamline government operations and reduce waste.

As for whether the new administration will keep this effort going or make the Treasury’s access permanent, we’re still waiting to hear back from Trump’s team. It’s an interesting time for government efficiency, that’s for sure!