TCT-ECO-021 · DOGE
Millions of people aged 150+ were receiving Social Security
Statement and context
“There’s 1.3 million people they’re saying are alive and receiving Social Security”; he also cited more than 130,000 people over age 160.
February 21, 2025, National Governors Association meeting; repeated March 4 before Congress.
What the evidence shows
SSA stated that the cited records were Social Security number records without a recorded date of death and were “not necessarily receiving benefits.” The SSA inspector general found 18.9 million numberholders born in 1920 or earlier without death information, but said almost none were receiving SSA payments; about 44,000 were in payment status at the review date, a group that includes some legitimate centenarians and cases requiring review. The database issue is real; the assertion that 1.3 million 150-year-olds were receiving benefits is not.
False. Records lacking death dates were conflated with current beneficiaries.
Sources and attribution
Tracker research synthesis; inspect the linked evidence and research record.