Musk's False Claim that 150 Year Olds Are Being Paid Social Security: A "Zombie" Claim That Won't Go Away

Musk, Trump Refuse to Acknowledge the Falsity of the Claims that milliions of 125-150 year olds are being paid social security benefits.

Musk’s wild claim has been repeatedly debunked, but neither Trump nor Musk will admit it’s wrong and so millions of Americans cling to the false belief that Musk engendered. Here is an “Explain it to me like I’m in the second grade” breakdown of why it’s false and why the names being on record doesn’t mean what Musk claims it means.

Section 1: The Claim by Musk

In February 2025, Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), posted a chart suggesting that the Social Security Administration (SSA) had millions of active records for individuals over 130 years old. The implication? That the U.S. government was issuing retirement checks to people who were, quite literally, long deceased. Here is the post:

Right-wing influencers and President Trump amplified this claim, presenting it as "proof" of massive government fraud and waste. The narrative fit neatly into their broader messaging—Big Government is broken, the Deep State is siphoning taxpayer money, and only they can fix it.

The problem? It wasn’t true.

Section 2: The Actual Facts

The SSA does have records indicating individuals over 130 years old—but this doesn't mean they're receiving benefits. These entries exist due to record-keeping and administrative reasons, not because deceased individuals are drawing payments.

Here’s why:

1. Historical Data Entry Issues – The SSA's system, built on the decades-old COBOL programming language, often defaults to placeholder dates when birthdates are missing or unrecorded. This can result in records showing implausible ages, such as 150 years or more.

   Wired

2. Inactive Accounts – The vast majority of these records belong to individuals long deceased, with benefits terminated. Their records remain in the system for purposes like cross-checking, fraud detection, and internal auditing—not because they are actively receiving money.

   PolitiFact

3. Official Clarifications – Acting SSA Commissioner Lee Dudek stated that individuals listed as over 100 years old in SSA records "are not necessarily receiving benefits."

   PolitiFact

Citations:

• SSA’s official statement debunking Musk’s claim

  PolitiFact

• Independent fact-checks

  Wired

Section 3: No Acknowledgment by Musk or Trump That They Were Wrong

Unsurprisingly, neither Musk nor Trump has acknowledged the falsity of Musk’s claim. In fact, Trump has doubled down on the narrative, using it as a talking point in speeches and fundraising communications.

Musk, meanwhile, has shifted focus to other controversies. This follows a predictable pattern—make an outlandish claim, watch it go viral, let fact-checkers debunk it, and then ignore all corrections while the original misinformation continues to spread.

Admitting error would undermine both Musk’s personal brand and Trump’s political agenda. So, they don’t.

Section 4: What to Expect Going Forward

Expect this myth to resurface repeatedly, especially with upcoming elections. Trump and his allies will likely continue using the “150-year-olds receiving Social Security” line to attack federal agencies and sow distrust in government.

Meanwhile, Musk may persist in "just asking questions", thereby introducing fringe conspiracy theories into mainstream discourse.

The key takeaway? Each time this claim emerges, recognize it for what it is: a repeatedly debunked falsehood. Upholding the truth is essential, even when prominent figures refuse to acknowledge it.