Slashdot Mirror
Government Mistakenly Declares Deaths of Citizens
superbrose writes "According to MSNBC, thousands of U.S. citizens have wrongfully been declared dead, due to an average of 35 data input errors per day by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Many other agencies rely on the data provided by the SSA, such as the IRS. People who have been wrongfully declared dead face many problems, such as rejection of tax returns, cancellation of health insurance, and closure of bank accounts. The article states, 'Input of an erroneous death entry can lead to benefit termination and result in financial hardship for a beneficiary.' Apparently it is far easier to declare a person's death than it is to correct the mistake. It continues, 'Social Security says an erroneous death record can be removed only when it is presented with proof that the original record was entered in error. The original error must be documented, and the deletion must be approved by a supervisor after "pertinent facts supporting reinstatement" are available in the system.'"
Do I have to pay back my credit card bills??
This might not be all bad.
Mever nind the typos.
Isn't there prior art in this case?
Netcraft certainly have a business model that would appear to pre-date this government declaring things dead situation.
liqbase
Being dead can quickly ruin your life!
"I'm not dead!"
Papieren bitte!
After all ... we can't have inaccurate records now, can we? That would be the road to chaos! And think of the savings. We wouldn't have to go on record recording changes to the records, and who benefit from such a record?
Why not set up an adminstrative comittee suitably empowered to, and responsible for, maintaining the integrity of the records? How about that? It would solve this little problem in record time!
what happens if a person makes a mistake filling out the paperwork declaring that they are, in fact, alive?
will the clerk sitting behind the desk hand the papers back to you, stating that you have not given sufficient proof that you are alive.
at that point, i would likely flip out and start eating brains.
Not her brain, mind you, because if she fails to realize that standing in front of her kinda proves that I am alive; thats not a brain worth eating.
-I only code in BASIC.-
Of course, there's the downside. No more sex, since necrophilia is also against the law ...
I don't think it is illegal for the dead person to have sex in any jurisdiction, just find yourself another dead person to do it with and you are both in the clear.
That's right. Because you'll be able to just print a photo of yourself on sticker stock and paste it over the photo on the ID. It's really that simple, and that's why we've completely given up on using IDs for anything.
_Please_ notice the sarcasm intended.
At this point, he's more likely an Obama supporter
The thing is, Obama - through sheer audacity of hope and lefty rhetoric - actually can bring the dead back to life. Also, college girls actually faint when he talks. Now that's qualifications for being Commander in Chief, no matter how extensive is your opponent's collection of Pentagon-briefing-ready pantsuits.
Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
"You have to prove that the record was entered in error, sir."
"You mean I have to find the data entry clerk and get a notarized statement that he didn't mean to mark me as dead? What if he meant to do it, because he's become mad with power?"
"Then you're dead, sir."
"If I'm dead, why are you still calling me 'sir?'"
"It's in the handbook: 'All male customers must be addressed as sir, regardless of age, national origin, ethnicity, or disability.' I think being dead would qualify as a disability. Anyway, it's not worth losing my job over. Next in line!"
...when government declares you dead... you are!
Skivvy Niner? Email me!
HEY! Look left just ONE MORE TIME!
I'm not dead yet. ... I'm feeling better. ...
AdultZombieFinder.com: Bringing America's dead together.
Only on Slashdot would a Wrath of Khan quote get modded "Informative". {raises eyebrow}
http://alternatives.rzero.com/
In cook county your name stays on the votes list even after you are dead.
They think! They reason! They apply varying degrees of effort depending on the importance of the task!
Heh, that made me chuckle. What country are you in? I'd like to go meet some of your government employees someday, they sound like quite the curiosity.
sic transit gloria mundi
Depends on whether your insurance policy covers death by clerical error.
for tax purposes doesn't seem so farfetched all of a sudden.
Any guest worker system is indistinguishable from indentured servitude.
You appear to be dead. Let's rectify the misunderstanding in an orderly manner. Please, stand closer to that wall.
Any guest worker system is indistinguishable from indentured servitude.
[Data entry error], nothing! You take one nap in a ditch in the park and they start declaring you this and that!
Ah, thanks. I was starting to wonder why he was buying 3 quarts of alcohol, tobacco, and firearms.
In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
Interesting idea. Unfortunately, any savings would be offset by the addition of a Necromancer Division tasked with resurrecting those marked alive who are, in fact, dead.