The U.S. Treasury Department has reclaimed more than $31 million in Social Security funds that were mistakenly paid to deceased individuals. This significant recovery resulted from a pilot program designed to crack down on government waste and fraud.
The recovery effort began 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. This extensive database contains over 142 million records dating back to 1899, enabling officials to detect improper payments that had slipped through the system.
Fiscal Assistant Secretary David Lebryk described this recovery as “just the tip of the iceberg,” signaling that more taxpayer dollars could be saved in the coming years. Treasury officials estimate they could retrieve over $215 million by the time the program concludes in 2026.
The discovery of these improper payments has reignited concerns about government accountability and wasteful spending. Critics argue that the federal government has failed to implement effective measures to prevent such errors, resulting in the misuse of taxpayer funds.
Lawmakers are now pushing for permanent access to the SSA database, believing it could help prevent future payment errors. The success of this program highlights how inter-agency cooperation can curb fraud and protect taxpayer money.
The Treasury will continue its investigation into improper payments throughout the remainder of the program, with hopes of uncovering more fraud and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are responsibly managed.
