Woman learns she’s been declared dead while trying to claim Social Security – small mistake led to 2-year nightmare
A WOMAN has faced endless problems since the Social Security Administration declared her dead two years ago - and the accident is more common than you'd think.
The government wrongly marks thousands of Americans as dead each year, according to federal data.
The small mistake turned into issues recurring for two years.
Last August, the Internal Revenue Service told Hazel her tax return couldn't be processed because her social security number "belongs to someone deceased."
"And I'm not getting no benefits from social security, none," Hazel said.
"I have rent to pay. I have bills to pay."
Renee Williams, 66, told Philadelphia's CBS affiliate that the incident has been a "pain in the behind."
She made the terrifying discovery that she had been deemed deceased while at a doctor's appointment.
"I went to the emergency ward on Friday, and they couldn't get my insurance information," Williams told the outlet.
"She said she tried several places and they said it was inactive. They said that I was deceased."
The mistake led to devastating consequences for Williams as she reported her monthly Social Security checks have disappeared.
"Her benefits, the banks, credit cards, it's a lot," Williams' daughter, Wadeeyah McNeil, said.
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"It's going to be a while before she gets all this stuff back in order. It'll be a long while."
The U.S. Sun has reached out to the SSA for comment.