An 82-year-old Seattle man had $5000 taken out of his bank account after DOGE, on behalf of the Social Security Administration, declared him dead.
The Seattle Times reported that Johnson learned about his supposed demise when his wife received a letter from their bank offering condolences for her loss.
The letter also notified her that her late husband’s Social Security payments had been rescinded.
The bank claimed the Social Security Administration was responsible for the $5000 taken out of his bank account.
Mr. Johnson called the bank, and the person who answered told him he had died in November.
"But I'm on the phone with you right now," Johnson protested. He was told to "take it up with Social Security."
$5000 Taken Out of His Bank Account by an Agency That’s Impossible to Reach
Johnson attempted to contact Social Security by phone for weeks, but he was repeatedly put on hold or the call was disconnected.
After weeks of consistent attempts to contact the Social Security Administration, he wasn’t able to tell anyone that he was alive or complain about the $5000 taken out of his bank account
Johnson decided to try going to the office in person. He visited a Social Security office located nearby and stood in line for four hours. It was clear the office was severely understaffed.
When he finally reached the counter, Johnson was able to show his passport as “proof of life.” They assured him that his Social Security benefits would be restored.
He still hasn't received the monthly payments for February or March.
Johnson didn't just lose Social Security benefits after his “death,” his Medicare coverage was canceled and credit reporting agencies added a statement to Johnson’s report: “Deceased. Do not issue credit.”
"If I was living solely off this [Social Security], I could be close to dumpster diving about now," he said, concerned for others who might confront similar issues.
From reporting by The Latin Times:
“The Social Security Administration has not provided an explanation for how Johnson ended up in its "death master file," nor has it indicated whether steps will be taken to prevent similar errors.
The agency's director has warned that DOGE's aggressive budget cuts could cause the agency to collapse.
Meanwhile, Musk and Trump continue to claim that fraudulent Social Security payments to deceased individuals are rampant.”
There has already been an explanation from SSA employees for the 150-year-old people DOGE claimed to have found in the system. The coding standard ISO 18601 automatically fills in a missing date of birth with a date that would now be displayed as the age: 150.
According to Wired:
“The fact that the Social Security system contains millions of entries from people who are dead is likely distinct from a potential COBOL-caused error, and also not news.
A report written by the SSA’s inspector general in 2023 found that 98 percent of those aged 100 or older in the Social Security databases are not in receipt of any benefits.”
The Social Security Director recently threatened to shut down the agency after a judge ruled that DOGE officials shouldn't have access to the private information of American citizens.
The SSA database stores personal data for every person with a Social Security number including; address, employment history, bank account information, and the personal medical records of anyone who applied for disability benefits.
"You sort of have no choice but to laugh it off," said Johnson’s wife, Pam. "But it seems like it's going to get worse."
FAQ
Can Social Security take money out of your bank account?
The SSA handles overpayment cases on a case-by-case basis, and you have the right to appeal the overpayment decision or amount, or ask for a waiver of the overpayment.
Overpayments: If you receive an overpayment, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will notify you and offer options to address the issue, and can potentially take 100% of your monthly check to claw back the money.
Garnishment Process: If a garnishment is ordered, the SSA will typically notify you and deduct the required amount from your monthly benefits.
