Elon Musk has drawn attention to irregularities within the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) records, noting that millions of individuals are listed as being over 100 years old, with some purportedly aged between 130 and 159 years. Musk shared a chart indicating that over 20 million entries in the SSA database reflect ages surpassing a century, including more than 3.9 million individuals aged 130-139 and over 1.3 million aged 150-159.
Experts suggest that these anomalies may stem from outdated data management systems. The SSA’s reliance on the COBOL programming language, developed over six decades ago, could lead to default or placeholder dates when actual birthdates are missing or unrecorded. This practice might result in the system assigning exaggerated ages to certain records.
Audits conducted by the SSA’s inspector general have addressed these discrepancies. A 2023 report revealed that while numerous records indicate ages exceeding 100, the majority of these individuals are not actively receiving benefits. The absence of recorded death information, particularly for deaths occurring before the advent of electronic records, contributes to these inaccuracies. The report also highlighted that updating these records would incur substantial costs, leading to a decision against immediate rectification.
Musk’s observations have reignited discussions about the necessity for modernizing federal data systems to enhance accuracy and prevent potential misuse. While the presence of outdated or incorrect records is evident, there is limited evidence to suggest widespread fraudulent benefit claims associated with these anomalies.
The SSA has acknowledged the existence of these irregularities and remains committed to maintaining the integrity of its programs. Efforts to address these issues are ongoing, balancing the need for accurate record-keeping with considerations of resource allocation and technological upgrades.