Despite all the rumors to the contrary, Social Security benefit checks are NOT being sent to people who died a long time ago.

Elon Musk’s team has descended on an already understaffed Social Security Administration, which now faces further workforce cuts and closures of vital local offices. The consequences could be significant for millions of the most vulnerable Americans.

Leland Dudek’s weekend started with a phone call removing him from his job at the Social Security Administration after giving information about the agency to DOGE, the government cost-cutting initiative associated with billionaire Elon Musk. By Monday, he was named the agency’s acting commissioner.

Here’s how many Social Security retirement checks go out to people 99 and older. Hint: It’s far fewer than Trump claims.

DOGE has limited "read only" access to data and will not disrupt or delay the disbursement of payments to beneficiaries, SSA Acting Commissioner Dudek said.