Say what? Social Security data says 6.5M in US reach age 112

FLE - In this Aug. 14, 1935, file photo President Franklin Roosevelt signs the Social Security bill in Washington. Americans are getting older, but not this old: Social Security records show that 6.5 million people in the U.S. have reached the ripe old age of 112. In reality, only few could possibly be alive. As of last fall, there were only 42 people known to be that old in the entire world. But Social Security does not have death records for millions of people with birth dates stretching back as far as 1869, according to a report by the agency’s inspector general. The first old-age monthly benefit check was paid in 1940, after President Franklin D. Roosevelt had signed the Social Security Act in 1935. (AP Photo, File) FLE - In this Aug. 14, 1935, file photo President Franklin Roosevelt signs the Social Security bill in Washington. Americans are getting older, but not this old: Social Security records show that 6.5 million people in the U.S. have reached the ripe old age of 112. In reality, only few could possibly be alive. As of last fall, there were only 42 people known to be that old in the entire world. But Social Security does not have death records for millions of people with birth dates stretching back as far as 1869, according to a report by the agency’s inspector general. The first old-age monthly benefit check was paid in 1940, after President Franklin D. Roosevelt had signed the Social Security Act in 1935. (AP Photo, File)

By Associated Press March 14, 2015 5 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Americans are getting older, but not this old: Social Security records show that 6.5 million people in the U.S. have reached the ripe old age of 112.

In reality, only few could possibly be alive. As of last fall, there were only 42 people known to be that old in the entire world.

But Social Security does not have death records for millions of these people, with the oldest born in 1869, according to a report by the agency’s inspector general.

Only 13 of the people are still getting Social Security benefits, the report said. But for others, their Social Security numbers are still active, so a number could be used to report wages, open bank accounts, obtain credit cards or claim fraudulent tax refunds.

“That is a real problem,” said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. “When you have a fake Social Security number, that’s what allows you to fraudulently do all kinds things, claim things like the earned income tax credit or other tax benefits.”