The stimulus not only seeing dead people, but sending them checks
Filed under: Retire, Fraud, Stimulate US
You might expect a few mistakes -- and a little fraud -- to crop up in the 52 million stimulus checks that the government has sent out. But a new report from Fox News may have people gasping: Millions of dollars in stimulus checks may have been sent out to between 8,000 and 10,000 dead people. The Social Security Administration says that this could have happened because they had no record of these people's deaths, but even more curious, Fox News said that at least one of them never even collected Social Security benefits.
That person was a U.S. citizen but left for Italy in 1933 and only returned to the U.S. for a seven-month visit in 1969. Antoniette Santopadre of Valley Stream, New York told Fox she was expecting a check but didn't get one. Instead a check was sent to her husband, Romolo Romonini who died in Italy 34 years ago.
If the Fox story is true, then our Social Security record system is even more faulty than anyone could possibly imagine. Someone put names into that system without even getting proper identification. This mistake definitely needs a Congressional investigation fast.
With Social Security in so much trouble, we must be certain that we're not wasting Social Security benefits on people who shouldn't be in the system. As of this writing, I'm still waiting for a comment from the Social Security Administration.
Lita Epstein has written more than 25 books including the Complete Idiot's Guide to Social Security and Medicare.



Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
5-15-2009 @ 12:43PM
thundercat1945 said...
The SSA is as sharp as marbles.
Reply
5-15-2009 @ 12:36PM
Annee said...
Two suggestions - One, they are using the Democratic voters lists.
Two - illegal aliens are using the SS# of dead people. ( ya think?)
Reply
5-16-2009 @ 2:04PM
nykaren said...
If Fox said it I don't believe it. However, when Bush gave out his 2 stimulius packages . In which I recieved. It happened then. Now, the witch hunt is on. Dig deeper into fox hole. I got more money from Bushes plan than Obamas. This time around I'm only getting $250. Bush $400.I;m getting it because i'm not getting a tax cut in my pay due to ss.
5-17-2009 @ 10:56AM
Sonja said...
I think you hit the nail on the head with your two reasons. You might add #3 - they used Acorns voters list too.
5-15-2009 @ 12:43PM
Douglas said...
Why shouldn't dead people get sent stimulus/payoff money from the Democrats? They voted for them in the elections, probably more than once. Those A.C.O.R.N. folks sure are good at getting the dead registered and out to vote!
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5-15-2009 @ 1:00PM
DONNA WOLFE said...
STIMULUS CHECKS WERE SENT OUT WHILE W WAS PRESIDENT....YOU ARE DUMB
5-15-2009 @ 2:10PM
Lonnie said...
Donna, get your head out of the demo butt. Maybe then you will understand they are talking about stimulus checks that were just mailed in the last few days. It does not matter what is said, you will blindly defend Obama. You are pathetic.
5-15-2009 @ 2:23PM
Bboy said...
How can some-one stoop so low to even think that SSF office is a political office! Would it surprise you that the same people might have received rebate checks which were issued by the previous Administration? The reason it makes news now is because some ..... are trying ti pull all strings so as to bring Obama down. This just cement the belief that some do think that they have monopoly on power. God bless us!!!!1
5-15-2009 @ 2:23PM
david peacock said...
you are right on my friend.
5-15-2009 @ 2:26PM
Douglas said...
Well, I understand it is asking a lot from someone who blindly votes Dem to take the time to learn how the gov works, but Congress controls the checkbook and makes the laws. The President only signs them. Since they are often bundled up in necessary legislature, many things get passed that a President may not like. Any President, no matter what their party. The Congress is the one that let the lenders out of any meaningful restraint and accountability. It just so happens that when that happened and later on like in the last 2 years), this wild spending spree (that every economist in the World agrees will do nothing to speed or slow the natural recovery of a recession) was brought about by a Dem controlled Congress. Disagree all you want, but you might want to actually look at the facts before you blindly rant and make yourself appear to be ignorant.
5-15-2009 @ 2:41PM
wendy t said...
I see a lot of Fox News watchers are on this board. Never let reality get in the way of ignorance and anger.
5-17-2009 @ 8:51AM
sofuggit said...
It amazes me to see that some people out there still call Obama votes 'blind votes', and for some reason they feel that Democrats don't know how the political system works. If this were true and only Republicans know how the political process works that says a lot about the Reps. They got whooped by a bunch of 'know nothings with aimless and blind votes'. Lol....No, it's fine. A recent poll (within past 3 weeks) has shown that only 20% of the US considers itself Republican since the election. WE'LL HAVE IT ALL SOON DEMS!!! OUT WITH THE UPTIGHT, DO-GOODER, SECRET ABORTION, SEX SCANDAL, TENN MOMS, EARTH HATING, UNPATRIOTIC, US SOLDIER KILLING PHONYS that are the Republican Party! You sacrifice Americans in war to defend a Pres (george) just because you can't admit HE WAS WRONG! You deny the Ecological issues facing us everyday only because it's mainly the Dems that fight for it and you would NEVER side with a Dem on ANYTHING. The Earth and our childrens future will be paying for Republican greed and self pride in the face of reality.
5-17-2009 @ 10:06AM
Russ said...
No Donna, the stimulus checks were not sent out under George Bush. You liberals are going to blame Bush for everything the Dumocraps do. You fool nobody with your BS post.
5-15-2009 @ 12:57PM
Bgatlake said...
And you can bet someone cashed them. I want our money back.
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5-15-2009 @ 12:45PM
astorgator said...
There is nothing but IDIOTS running the Social Security offices!!! Have been trying for over a year to get a SS #, for my wife, and each time, they come up with another reason, it cannot be done! Well, we will have her green card the next time we go down, and then I want to hear them say I need something else. This whole system is screwed up! At least, this is one thing, they cannot blame on Bush!!!!
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5-15-2009 @ 1:00PM
Gary said...
And you want the government to control your medical care? How stupid can you get?
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5-15-2009 @ 1:27PM
Sam said...
I agree. Where there is room for fraud to enter, the crimnals will come.
5-15-2009 @ 2:13PM
HateHypocrites said...
You don't think there is fraud in health insurance? LMAO!
5-15-2009 @ 12:57PM
Keith J. Mohrhoff said...
That's one way to prove whether the stimulus plan works..send it to dead people and see it it makes a difference!!! Now THAT'S a stimulus!!!
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5-15-2009 @ 1:01PM
Lee said...
The Social Security Adminstration got the mailing list from ACORN.
Thanks Lib's
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