Treasury Haunted By $31 Million In Social Security Mistake

The U.S. Treasury has recovered more than $31 million in Social Security payments that were incorrectly sent to deceased individuals. This discovery was part of a targeted five-month program aimed at reducing fraud and waste within federal spending.

This effort was launched after Congress granted the Treasury temporary access to the Social Security Administration’s Full Death Master File as part of the 2021 omnibus appropriations bill. The file holds more than 142 million death records, dating back to 1899, offering vital information to identify improper payments.

Fiscal Assistant Secretary David Lebryk stressed that this recovery represents “just the tip of the iceberg.” Treasury officials believe they could recover as much as $215 million by the program’s conclusion in 2026, pointing to deeper flaws in the system.

The exposure of these erroneous payments has led to criticism of how the government manages taxpayer funds. Watchdog groups and lawmakers have called for stronger oversight to prevent such costly mistakes from happening again.

Some in Congress are now advocating for the Treasury to gain permanent access to the SSA’s data. This would allow continuous monitoring of payments and prevent fraud before it occurs, ensuring better protection of taxpayer dollars.

The Treasury plans to continue this initiative over the next two years, potentially uncovering more improper payments and pushing for broader reforms to tighten control over government spending.