DOGE Wrongly Declared Elderly Man Dead Causing Bank to Take Thousands From His Account: 'Take It Up With Social Security'

An 82-year-old Seattle man had over $5,000 in benefits withdrawn from his account after the Social Security Administration declared him dead.

The issue with the bank's withdrawal, initiated by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is that the man, Leonard "Ned" Johnson, is still very much alive.

Johnson discovered his supposed demise when his wife received a letter from their bank in February offering condolences and notifying her that his Social Security payments had been rescinded, The Seattle Times reported. The bank told him he died in November. "But I'm on the phone with you right now," Johnson protested. He was told to "take it up with Social Security."

Soon Johnson learned that in addition to the purging of his social security benefits, his Medicare was canceled and his credit reporting was marked with "deceased, do not issue credit."

After weeks of attempted calls that only led to being placed on hold or disconnected, he visited Social Security in person. Johnson stood in line at the severely understaffed Seattle office for four hours before proving he was alive by showing his passport. Officials assured him they would correct the issue. However, he has yet to receive his February or March benefits.

The Social Security Administration has not provided an explanation for how Johnson ended up in its "death master file," nor has it indicated whether steps will be taken to prevent similar errors. The agency's director has warned that DOGE's aggressive budget cuts could cause the agency to collapse. Meanwhile, Musk and Trump continue to claim that fraudulent Social Security payments to deceased individuals are rampant.

"If I was living solely off this, I could be close to dumpster diving about now," he said, concerned for others who may confront similar issues.

"You sort of have no choice but to laugh it off," said his wife, Pam. "But it seems like it's going to get worse."

When a reporter searched his name online, a people-search site still listed him as "deceased."