Skip to Content

The stimulus not only seeing dead people, but sending them checks

More
Text SizeAAA

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.

Social Security blames a rushed schedule, but why would checks be sent to someone who never even claimed benefits? If he left for Italy in 1933 that was before Social Security was even created. The Social Security Act was first passed in 1935 and workers were registered by January 1937.

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.
Subscribe to Walletpop

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)

Featured Sponsor

Will you spend as wisely as you save?

If a gallon of milk costs $3.50 today, how much could it cost in 25 years with a 3% annual inflation rate?



Readers' Choice Winners for Best in Winter Travel
Votes have been cast for Best Ski Hotel, Best International Ski Destination, Best Caribbean Cruise ...
Readers' Choice Awards for Best in Sweets
Is there a maker of fine chocolate candy that makes your mouth water just thinking about it? Who ...

Julia Scott
Julia Scott Filed under: Bargain Babe

Borders coupon for 33% off

Here is the latest coupon from Borders. Get 33% off any one regular-priced item today through Thursday, Feb. 11. Some exclusions. Online use coupon code BSL7210X. One per person. The coupon also ...
Tom Barlow
Tom Barlow Filed under: Food

No seed shortage for gardeners this spring, despite reports to the contrary

Thanks to the recession, more Americans are interested in growing their own vegetables. Bad timing, according to an Associated Press report that seeds for some popular veggies might be in short supply ...
Mitch Lipka
Mitch Lipka Filed under: Recalls, Consumer Ally

Deaths spark crib recall: CSPC says to stop using Generation 2 and ChildESIGNS cribs

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is issuing a crib recall and warning anyone with Generation 2 Worldwide or "ChildESIGNS" drop side cribs to stop using them following reports of the deaths ...
Zac Bissonnette
Zac Bissonnette Filed under: Real Estate

Survey says? Homeowners think real estate collapse is over

A Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan survey published last week suggests that most homeowners think the worst is over, and don't anticipate further declines in the value of their properties in ...

Retirement Basics

Headlines from WalletPop Partners