US Social Security error costs 82-year-old benefits and $5,000

Musk’s DOGE initiative, a push for efficiency, leads to 82-year-old being wrongly declared dead.

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An 82-year-old man in the United States was mistakenly declared dead under a federal government initiative led by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), resulting in the loss of his Social Security and Medicare benefits, along with $5,201 withdrawn from his bank account.

Ned Johnson, a resident reportedly in good health, learned of the error only after his bank sent a letter of condolence to his wife in February.

At that point, his February and March benefits had already been halted, and a recovery of past payments was initiated by the Social Security Administration (SSA) based on his false death record.

The federal agency withdrew $5,201 from Johnson’s account, claiming the amount was an overpayment of benefits made after his supposed death.

His monthly payments for February and March were also stopped.

Johnson, who is in good health, said he received no prior notification from the Social Security Administration (SSA). He and his wife initially assumed the bank’s letter was part of a scam.

Upon contacting the bank, they discovered that the government had formally recorded his death.

The error comes amid an ongoing campaign led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a restructuring initiative backed by Elon Musk and implemented under the Trump administration. DOGE has promised to remove deceased individuals from government rolls, claiming the system continues to pay benefits to people long dead.

 

 

 

 

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Critics say the initiative relies heavily on automated systems and lacks proper verification processes, leading to errors that disproportionately affect elderly Americans.

To correct the issue, Ned Johnson had to appear in person at his local Social Security office, bringing his identification to prove that he was alive.

He waited four hours in line before being allowed to speak with a staff member. According to Johnson, that office is now one of many slated for closure under DOGE cost-cutting policies.

“If I was living solely off Social Security, I could be close to dumpster diving about now,” Ned Johnson said in a statement.

The SSA has not provided any public explanation or apology for the incident. As of Sunday, Ned Johnson’s benefits had not been fully reinstated.

Advocacy groups have warned that similar cases may rise as DOGE continues to reduce staffing and physical office locations in favour of digital processes.

“This is exactly what happens when we prioritise automation over accuracy,” said a representative from an elder rights non-profit. “Mistakes like these can ruin lives.”

The Trump-Musk initiative to “modernise” the federal government has faced criticism from civil society organisations, who argue that efficiency measures are being implemented without adequate safeguards for vulnerable populations.

As the administration continues to defend its reforms, Johnson’s case has become a flashpoint in the debate over how far federal efficiency should go—and at what cost.