What is the 'dead people problem' in the Social Security Administration and what are its implications?

The 'dead people problem' refers to the Social Security Administration having 18.9 million individuals born before 1920 still listed in their system without a death date. A 2023 Inspector General report revealed this issue, noting that while these individuals are not receiving Social Security benefits, the lack of proper death documentation creates significant risks elsewhere. The main concern is that other government agencies relying on Social Security's death master file could be making erroneous payments to deceased individuals. This contributes to the broader problem of improper government payments, which according to the Government Accountability Office totaled over $236 billion in 2023 alone, representing a substantial fraud risk and accountability issue for taxpayers.