08.09.11

Durbin Asks How System That Falsely Reports Deaths of Living Illinoisans Can Be Improved

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Prompted by an August 7 Chicago Sun-Times report, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Michael Astrue, to urge improvement of the Administration’s Death Master File which has erroneously reported thousands of Illinoisans dead.  Nationwide, 14,000 of these errors – which can cause problems with credit agencies, with lenders and with potential employers – are made each year.

 

“I understand that out of the 2 million deaths reported every year 99.5 percent are reported accurately,” wrote Durbin.  “However, I remain concerned that for the 0.5 percent of individuals whose deaths are reported incorrectly, this error can cause very significant challenges.  As you know, if a person is mistakenly placed on this list, it can result in problems with credit agencies, applying for a loan, or even getting a job.  In addition, individuals who have been in this situation report that the problem can be difficult to resolve.”

 

An article that appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times on Sunday, August 7, told the stories of Illinoisans who were stunned to learn of their own falsely reported deaths. The article references a Scripps Howard News Service report showing Illinois as having the third-highest error rate in the country, with 13.2 mistakes per 100,000 people.  The report also shows that between 2007 and 2008 the number of errors in Illinois nearly quadrupled (from 461 in 2007 to 1,675 in 2008). 

 

[Text of the letter is below and attached]

 

August 8, 2011

 

Michael Astrue

Social Security Administration

6401 Security Boulevard

Baltimore, MD 21235

 

Dear Commissioner Astrue:

 

I am writing to you today with regard to a recent report about errors in the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File, which contains records of over 90 million deceased Americans.   According to a Scripps Howard News Service report, every year thousands of Americans are entered into this computer system in error and recorded as deceased, when in fact they are alive.  The Scripps analysis shows that Illinois has the third-highest error rate in the country, and that between 2007 and 2008 the number of errors nearly quadrupled. 

 

I understand that out of the 2 million deaths reported every year 99.5 percent are reported accurately.  I commend your high rate of accuracy.  However, I remain concerned that for the 0.5 percent of individuals whose deaths are reported incorrectly, this error can cause very significant challenges.  As you know, if a person is mistakenly placed on this list, it can result in problems with credit agencies, applying for a loan, or even getting a job.  In addition, individuals who have been in this situation report that the problem can be difficult to resolve.

 

I bring this matter to your attention to inquire about the reasons for these reporting errors in Illinois.  Specifically, what changed between 2007 and 2008 to explain the dramatic increase? What steps have been taken to ensure that these reporting errors will be corrected and what plans are in place to avoid these problems in the future?   

 

Thank you for your attention to this matter.  I look forward to working with you to ensure that the proper safeguards are in place to significantly reduce these errors. 

Sincerely,

 

Richard J. Durbin

United States Senator