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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.'"

7 of 361 comments (clear)

  1. Netcraft has prior art? by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

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    liqbase :: faster than paper
  2. It's official... by JonasH · · Score: 5, Funny

    Being dead can quickly ruin your life!

  3. I wonder if it wouldn't be much less trouble ... by golodh · · Score: 5, Funny
    to make reality conform to the records. Purely as an administrative procedure you see. Off the record of course, but much quicker than setting about altering the records.

    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!

  4. Re:This is great news! by freaknl · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

  5. Re:wouldn't it be great? by ScentCone · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

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    Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
  6. Hang on, I've got to go register a domain by BovineSpirit · · Score: 5, Funny

    AdultZombieFinder.com: Bringing America's dead together.

  7. Re:Do you trust the government with your idenity? by glwtta · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

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    sic transit gloria mundi