Stimulus funds went to dead people

Shade · Oct 8, 2010

Stimulus funds went to dead people
By MEREDITH SHINER

Approximately $18 million worth of stimulus funds went to Americans who are dead, according to report released by the Social Security Administration's inspector general released Thursday.

More than 89,000 payments worth $250 each, taken from the $787 billion stimulus package, were doled out to either dead people or prison inmates. Seventeen thousand incarcerated Americans received an aggregate $4.3 million from the economic relief package.

According to the report, the prisoners received the government money because they had been eligible for Social Security benefits before being sent to jail.

Overall, the stimulus - which has become a hot-button political issue heading into the November midterms - has paid out $250 checks to about 52 million Americans who qualify for Social Security benefits.

The report said that 55,000 of the payments made to the deceased resulted from clerical errors and a failure of states to swiftly inform the administration of their deaths. It found that 41,000 of the faulty payments were returned.

News of the report was easy political fodder for Republicans looking to brand Democrats as reckless spenders.

"Based on the failure of the SSA to properly check its records, and Congress' failure to fully think through the provisions needed to govern these payments, SSA lost $22.3 million in American tax dollars," said Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). "These findings are yet another example of congressional stupidity and a lack of accountability."

Sen. David Vitter, a Republican incumbent up for re-election this cycle, added via Twitter: "I strongly opposed this failed spending."
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For the epic luls.

QP3 · Oct 8, 2010

Good Job Obama and the whitehouse staff! This is the change America asked for!

pineapple skunk · Oct 8, 2010

how anyone can ever support the federal government trying to do anything for the entire country, whether it be universal health care or social security or whatever is beyond me

SouthrnSmoke · Oct 9, 2010

Sen. David Vitter, a Republican incumbent up for re-election this cycle, added via Twitter: "I strongly opposed this failed spending."
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Obviously not strong enough!

Eric111E · Oct 9, 2010

$250, thats a fuckin insult. WTF could that possibly stimulate?

QP3 · Oct 9, 2010

eric111e said:

$250, thats a fuckin insult. WTF could that possibly stimulate?
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Your crack habit and a vote for the democratic party, of course.

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Stimulus funds went to dead people

Shade Ghost of Christmas Past

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pineapple skunk 1989

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