How to Fix Social Security Administration Wrongly Declaring You Dead

How would you react if you were declared dead? You’ll be shocked, no? Of course, you’ll be—it will be your worst nightmare.

According to some studies, this keeps happening, and it is very common. Almost 6,000 people are erroneously reported as deceased by the Social Security Administration each year. In some cases, individuals are not actually aware of this error until they need to use their Social Security Number.

But what to do if it happens to you? How would you deal with all the formalities and paperwork? Many questions may be popping up in your head, so don't worry because we have discussed the various steps you need to take if you are wrongly listed by the Social Security Administration.

The Feature Highlights

We Do the Heavy Lifting for You

HOW DO SUCH HORRIBLE MISTAKES HAPPEN?

For you to be declared deceased, it just takes a wrong sequence of numbers to be entered in the list.

For instance, when a person has died, his death certificate is given to the SSA to update his account information as deceased. Typically, a funeral home or funeral director submits death reports to the SSA, and the death must be verified before being recorded.

If the employee types a wrong digit in the actual sequence of the number, then it will be the biggest blunder as the person who actually died will stay alive in the records and the other person will be mistakenly declared dead. Reported deaths are based on information from death reports submitted by funeral homes, funeral directors, or family members, so errors in these reports can lead to serious consequences.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF BEING DECLARED DEAD WHEN YOU'RE NOT?

It might seem funny, but it’s actually not! Yes, being wrongly listed while you are alive is quite a serious thing, most importantly because of your identity and your finances. You can often find the deceased indicator under the portion of your report that references who is responsible for the debt.

And somehow, even if you succeed in sorting out the blunders. Then, you might face some problems such as:

• You are likely to lose all the benefits that you were receiving every month.
• You may not be eligible for a loan, credit card, student loan, home loan, or employment.
• Also, you might not get access to your own bank accounts or be able to open or maintain a bank account.
• You may lose your driver's license or be unable to renew it.
• You might not get the refund on taxes or even your tax return might get rejected, even when you are eligible for it.

A mistaken deceased notation can also lead to the cancellation of insurance policies, credit accounts, and other financial services.

Isn’t it too terrifying to hear that you’ll not get access to your own bank accounts and all the other benefits? Obviously, it is. A wrongful act can create havoc in the finances. Payments and benefits may be stopped or require repayment, and financial institutions and credit bureaus rely on accurate records to assess your creditworthiness. Mistakes in death records can result in identity theft and fraud, so it is important to notify credit bureaus, creditors, and financial institutions to correct the record. Family members, spouses, or executors may need to provide documents such as a death certificate, proof of marriage, and letters of authority to notify agencies and request corrections.

Notices and letters should be mailed to the correct addresses of credit bureaus and creditors, and supporting documents should be included. Credit files and records are updated based on reports and documents submitted by family members, funeral homes, and other authorized parties. Survivor benefits may be available to eligible family members, and resources are available to help navigate the process.

Signs of identity theft or fraud may include unexpected calls from creditors or collection agencies. If you have been erroneously reported as deceased, you should contact the Social Security Administration (SSA), credit bureaus, and financial institutions to request corrections and prove your identity.

Fighting to restore your credit and correct false reports may require legal assistance, and attorneys can help file complaints and develop letters to support your case. The process may require patience, as correcting death records and updating official records can take time. Less than one third of reported deaths are erroneously reported, but the impact can be severe.

The SSA maintains the death record and errors can occur in the process of collecting and verifying death reports. Banks and other financial institutions may freeze or close accounts based on erroneous death reports. Providing your date of birth and other identification details may be necessary to prove your identity and correct the record. Resources are available for consumers in California and other states, and attorneys licensed in California can assist with these cases.

Issues with the Social Security’s office and erroneous deaths are common.

One of the main issues is that federal agencies may stop all benefits like Social Security checks will stop. If the Social Security Administration mistakenly declared you dead, we can help fix it all. Being wrongly put on the death master file is something we can help with. I recently read an article where a woman mistakenly was declared deceased by the SSA without there ever being a death certificate on you. Unfortunately, we see that all the time in my office.

We are credit lawyers which is different from credit repair because in the end, we help get you compensated.

We can help write all the letters, include all necessary documentation like your driver’s license, social security card, and handle all the follow up calls. Most clients also have a substantial claim for damages because the credit bureaus are likely saying you are dead, as well.

Attorney Joseph McClelland regularly discusses topics like erroneous death cases, death master file, social security check stoppage, credit bureaus that falsely or mistakenly declared dead consumers that were alive, and more.

Your attorney for when social security administration mistakenly declared you deceased. Let us deal with the Social Security’s office and the credit reporting agencies. We can help deal with with what happens after your credit card closes and your credit score gets erased. You don’t need the help of a federal agency like the Federal Trade Commission or the Central Financial Protection Board. We do it for you.