FactCheck: Misleading Claims Surrounding Social Security Number Data Uncovered

Elon Musk recently posted data on X, suggesting that more than 398 million Social Security numbers are recorded in the Social Security database. This figure has caused confusion online, with some misinterpreting it to imply that this many people are currently receiving Social Security benefits, a claim that far exceeds the U.S. population of approximately 341 million, according to Census Bureau data.

In a February 17 post, Musk included a chart breaking down Social Security numbers by age group, asserting that the total “eligible” numbers far outnumber U.S. citizens. His follow-up post stated, “Yes, there are FAR more ‘eligible’ social security numbers than there are citizens in the USA. This might be the biggest fraud in history.”

However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) reported over 68.4 million beneficiaries in 2024, including retired workers, survivors, and disabled individuals. For context, last year 54.3 million retired individuals and their dependents received payments, alongside 5.8 million survivors and more than 8.3 million disabled workers and their dependents.

Misinterpretation of Musk’s statistics has intensified on social media, with one Facebook post declaring, “BREAKING – Elon Musk and DOGE have discovered that there are 394 million Social Security recipients in the U.S…. Yet the country has only 334 million citizens.”

Jeff Brown, a finance professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, clarified that Musk’s figure relates to individuals with Social Security numbers, not actual beneficiaries. Brown further noted that the discrepancy may arise from several factors, such as individuals who died outside the U.S. or those temporarily working in the country.

“It does not matter if there are dead people or ex-pats or even fictitious people with fake SSNs in their system as long as they are not awarded benefits,” he stated. Verification becomes critical only when benefits are claimed.

The SSA is responsible for issuing Social Security numbers and administering the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program, providing income to retirees and individuals unable to work due to disability. American workers contribute to this program through payroll deductions.

The agency produces significant benefits, with over $1 trillion paid annually. However, an SSA report revealed that slight errors in the payment process can result in billions in improper payments. From fiscal years 2015 to 2022, the SSA disbursed nearly $8.6 trillion and encountered approximately $71.8 billion in improper payments, mainly overpayments.

The SSA has not yet commented on the misinformation circulating on social media regarding Musk’s claims.