Sport Investors League
  • Politics
  • Stocks
  • Investing
  • Business

Sport Investors League

  • Politics
  • Stocks
  • Investing
  • Business
Politics

Treasury Department recoups $31 million in improper government payments to dead people

by admin January 18, 2025
January 18, 2025
Treasury Department recoups $31 million in improper government payments to dead people

The Treasury Department announced this week that it had recouped more than $31 million in fraud and improper payments to dead people during just five short months of having access to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) federal death database. 

The Treasury Department issues billions of payments every year, including benefit payments, federally funded state-administered payments and other miscellaneous payments. Sending those funds and others by accident to people who are dead has been a long-standing problem within the federal government, according to fiscal watchdog group OpenTheBooks

In 2020, the Government Accountability Office estimated that during the first round of COVID-19 stimulus checks, $1.4 billion was sent to dead people. Across all three rounds of stimulus checks during the pandemic, nearly $3.6 billion went to dead people, according to OpenTheBooks.

The SSA is the only government agency with a database that records the deaths of U.S. citizens. In 2023, as part of an omnibus appropriations bill, Congress granted access for the Treasury Department, on a temporary basis, to have access to the database to help prevent improper payments to dead people. The temporary basis is set to expire in 2026.

‘While this should have been a no-brainer for a long time, it’s promising to see some taxpayer funds being recouped with basic communication among executive agencies,’ said John Hart, executive director of OpenTheBooks. ‘Too often the left hand just doesn’t know what the right hand is doing, and it’s resulted in trillions of dollars in improper payments.’

Hart blamed the nearly $4 billion in COVID-19 stimulus payments sent to dead people on the Internal Revenue Service’s failure to check the SSA’s death database. 

He also pointed out how, in addition to improper payments through the stimulus check program, the Small Business Administration also sent more than $3 billion more to dead people in the form of forgivable loans ‘to entities on the Treasury Department’s ‘Do Not Pay’ list.’

‘Today’s news is a step in the right direction, but there are miles to go before we break even,’ Hart said.

After news of the recovered payments was announced, Fiscal Assistant Secretary David Lebryk noted that the results were ‘just the tip of the iceberg.’

‘Congress granting permanent access to the Full Death Master File will significantly reduce fraud, improve program integrity, and better safeguard taxpayer dollars,’ he said. 

Related Topics

  • Politics
  • Social Security
  • Economic Policy
  • Coronavirus
This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Obama wishes wife Michelle happy birthday as she stays away from key public events
next post
How the S&P 500 Reaches 6500 By March 2025

Related Posts

US continues to share data to protect Ukrainians...

March 8, 2025

Here are the greatest Inauguration Day moments in...

January 18, 2025

Americans witnessing crippling federal regulations can go directly...

April 14, 2025

Top Harris aide hypes radical activist who said...

December 17, 2024

Trump makes it official, announces North Dakota Gov....

November 16, 2024

Trump makes appearances at several Inaugural Balls around...

January 21, 2025

Biden-Harris admin warns Israel over Gaza humanitarian aid,...

October 16, 2024

What Musk’s fracture with Trump means for GOP’s...

July 21, 2025

Jeffrey Epstein case reopens focus on Ghislaine Maxwell...

July 23, 2025

Grenell developing ‘common sense’ plan to turn Kennedy...

March 15, 2025

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent

    • ‘Doctor Strangelove with a mustache’: Bolton blasted for ‘profiteering’ off US secrets by White House advisor

      August 27, 2025
    • EPA urged to axe funds for ‘radical’ climate project accused of training judges, state AGs rally

      August 27, 2025
    • Bolton may be in hot water as FBI investigation expands beyond controversial book

      August 27, 2025
    • EPA urged by state AGs to axe funds for ‘radical’ climate project accused of training judges

      August 27, 2025
    • Intel rival SkyWater pitches itself as all-American firm as Trump mulls more equity deals

      August 27, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (1,083)
    • Investing (2,915)
    • Politics (3,567)
    • Stocks (1,155)
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: sportinvestorsleague.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 sportinvestorsleague.com | All Rights Reserved