Seattle man declared dead by Social Security Administration error

An 82-year-old man in Seattle, Leonard "Ned" Johnson, recently discovered that the Social Security Administration (SSA) had mistakenly declared him dead. This declaration led to the suspension of his benefits. His wife, Pam, initially thought the letter they received from their bank, which expressed condolences for his death, was a scam. At that time, Ned was sitting next to her, drinking coffee. The bank's letter stated that the SSA requested the return of benefits paid to Ned’s account, totaling about $5,201. After the mistake was made, Ned did not receive his Social Security payments for February and March. His Medicare insurance was also canceled. When he contacted his bank, they informed him that they couldn’t communicate directly with the SSA about the issue. After several weeks of calls, Ned received an appointment with the SSA that was later postponed. Frustrated, he decided to visit the agency in person, where he waited for eight hours. He brought his passport to prove he was alive. After speaking with an agent, the issue was reportedly resolved, and the bank confirmed that the deducted funds were put back into his account. However, Ned still has not received his Social Security payments for the past two months. The SSA could not discuss the specific case due to privacy laws but referred to guidelines for those mistakenly reported as deceased. While Ned’s wife is unsure about the cause of the error, Ned speculated if it might be related to recent claims about the SSA's efficiency under the Trump Administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This administration has faced criticism for potential staff cuts, raising concerns about the agency’s ability to serve Americans effectively. Pam summed up their feelings about the situation, saying, “You sort of have no choice but to laugh it off. But it seems like it’s going to get worse.”