Dead woman gets stimulus check. 83 year-old son says she died in ’67.

Posted on May 15, 2009 by Uppity Woman

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY — Millions of Americans on Social Security are receiving $250 checks as part of the president’s stimulus plan — including an Anne Arundel woman who died more than 40 years ago.

The woman’s son, 83-year-old James Hagner, said he got the surprise when he checked his mailbox late last week.

 “It shocked me and I laughed all at the same time,” Hagner said. “I don’t even expect to get one my own self, and I get one for my mother for 43 years ago?”

 His mother, Rose, died on Memorial Day in 1967

But but but, there’s a perfectly plausible explanation for this.

Social Security representatives said there is a good explanation. Of the about 52 million checks that have been mailed out, about 10,000 of those have been sent to people who are deceased.

 The agency blames the error on the strict mid-June deadline of mailing out all of the checks, which didn’t leave officials much time to clean up all of their records. Social Security representatives said there is a good explanation. Of the about 52 million checks that have been mailed out, about 10,000 of those have been sent to people who are deceased.

 The agency blames the error on the strict mid-June deadline of mailing out all of the checks, which didn’t leave officials much time to clean up all of their records.

Translation: We work for the government.  We aren’t used to working this hard. That’s why we still haven’t cleaned up 42 year-old records.

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78 Responses

  1. socalannie, on May 15, 2009 at 9:54 PM said:

    My Dad got that in his direct deposit. Big stimulus. You can’t even buy a good pair of earrings for only $250. Also, I read somewhere that they’re going to stop the cost of living increase (which also wasn’t much) for the next couple of years. So nice to know the gov’t cares…

  2. SHV, on May 15, 2009 at 10:32 PM said:

    10k checks out of 52 million is an error rate of .019%. Hard to beat that. I suspect the cost to revise the database and/or modify the software would cost an order of magnitude more that the money sent to dead people.

  3. Palin4Prez, on May 15, 2009 at 11:13 PM said:

    10k checks out of 52 million is an error rate of .019%. Hard to beat that.

    If you beleive that’s the case. Plus, that’s only the error rate of living vs deceased. How about the people with fake numbers? Or the checks that were sent to wrong addresses or the wrong bank accounts?

  4. SHV, on May 16, 2009 at 1:48 AM said:

    If you beleive that’s the case. Plus, that’s only the error rate of living vs deceased. How about the people with fake numbers? Or the checks that were sent to wrong addresses or the wrong bank accounts?
    **********
    You are probably correct and I have no idea of the status of the SS computer system. If SS is like INS or other major Govt system, they were/are running mainframe proprietary software with many undocumented patches. There was a multi-billion dollar proposal, ten years ago, to update the system, I have no idea what has been done.

  5. Fredster, on May 16, 2009 at 2:13 AM said:

    Also, I read somewhere that they’re going to stop the cost of living increase (which also wasn’t much) for the next couple of years

    Where did you hear that? Shit! For my mom it’s barely enough to get by. They’ll stop the cola but they’ll keep going with the medicare increases. Loverly.

  6. Fredster, on May 16, 2009 at 2:28 AM said:

    Oh hell socalannie:

    http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/05/08/no-social-security-cola-in-2010/

    On the other hand, the article says premiums for Medicare part B won’t go up either. (crossing fingers on that one)

  7. socalannie, on May 16, 2009 at 3:24 AM said:

    Well fredster, thanks for the news about the medicare rate not going up. I know how you feel, my dad lives on SS & his vets pension & can barely make ends meet.

  8. Mary, on May 16, 2009 at 3:40 AM said:

    Wasn’t that woman registered by acorn to vote this past fall?

  9. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 5:33 AM said:

    I would love to know what the overhead rate is at SSA.

  10. deadenders, on May 16, 2009 at 8:03 AM said:

    Here’s another good story.

    Recently, a Long Island, New York woman was shocked when she checked the mail and received a letter from the U.S. Treasury — but it wasn’t for her.

    Antoniette Santopadre of Valley Stream was expecting a $250 stimulus check. But when her son finally opened it, they saw that the check was made out to her father, Romolo Romonini, who died in Italy 34 years ago.

    Romonini was a U.S. citizen when he left for Italy in 1933, but only returned to the U.S. for a seven-month visit in 1969.

  11. deadenders, on May 16, 2009 at 8:06 AM said:

    And we really want ACORN involved in the Census. You bet you ass the Obama Admin. will tie the SS checks to the new Census data and billions of $ will go to false addresses making some dishonest people very rich.

  12. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 8:07 AM said:

    Is that the one with the FOX video of the woman laughing her butt off over the check?

  13. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 8:08 AM said:


    Hahahaha! Cracking up here.

  14. deadenders, on May 16, 2009 at 8:18 AM said:

    Yep that’s the one UW. Love that woman. Pissing our money away.
    Hers was the interesting case to me since her Father was never part of the SS system.
    Would be a great way for someone crooked at the SSA to send buddies some checks.

  15. Palin4Prez, on May 16, 2009 at 8:33 AM said:

    hey, does anyone have time to field a couple of basic plumbing questions?

  16. deadenders, on May 16, 2009 at 8:41 AM said:

    What do you need P4?

  17. Palin4Prez, on May 16, 2009 at 8:49 AM said:

    Got a bathtub faucet. After fighting with the handle that was stuck and getting the escutcheon pipe off, I’m not sure how to get the stem out. That part is basicall behind the wall. Is the biggest nuth the part I have to turn? My half-assed instructions refer to it as the bonnet.

    Since it’s behind the wall, the only thing I can use is a socket. But I want to make sure I’m turning the right thing or I won’t have hot water all weekend.

  18. beethovenqueen, on May 16, 2009 at 8:49 AM said:

    $2,500,000 TAX PAYER $$ to dead ppl.

    Hey “that’s not such a bad record!”

  19. Palin4Prez, on May 16, 2009 at 8:56 AM said:

    beethovenqueen,

    Hey, stimulus is stimulus. It’s all part of barfy’s great plan to bring back the dead with rebate checks.

  20. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 9:24 AM said:

    Yeah they all voted last November too.

  21. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 9:27 AM said:

    That’s why God made access walls, P4. But it must be a good day for plumbers because I am waiting for one right now. My trap is overflowing. This is not to be confused with your cup running over.

  22. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 9:32 AM said:

    Why don’t you just try some WD 40 on that handle. lol

  23. Palin4Prez, on May 16, 2009 at 9:35 AM said:

    Access walls? Next you’ll expect me to have a shutoff valve near the tub. No hot water in the whole house right now.

    I may be able to get soemthing called a bonnet socket. Which means first trip of the day to Lowes.

  24. deadenders, on May 16, 2009 at 9:40 AM said:

    Yeah P4 remove the Bonnet Nut with a crescent wrench its the the big one it normally extends beyond the wall but sometimes not. Then remove the valve stem with a deep socket. A little WD40 would be a good idea.

    I’m assuming you have a three handle faucet in the tub.

  25. deadenders, on May 16, 2009 at 9:43 AM said:

    I hope you do have a shut off valve because once you take the valve stem out you’ll be taking a fire hydrant style shower if you don’t.

  26. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 9:45 AM said:

    Well this is good. My plumber just called me back andhe’s in Cape Cod till tomorrow night. So it’s sump pump time for Uppity.

  27. deadenders, on May 16, 2009 at 9:47 AM said:

    If you have a 2 handle version the Bonnet nut is way back in the wall. You may need to chisel out some of the tile around the stem to get a deep socket back in there. Use the escutcheon and a pencil to trace around your escutcheon coverage area on the tile and make sure you don’t go beyond that mark or it will show when the job is done.

  28. Palin4Prez, on May 16, 2009 at 11:05 AM said:

    Update on my plumbing (heh, heh)

    I got a set of deep stem sockets and one of them actually fits. Now, I have to put enough force to pull the thing off ans see how bad it is.

    DE,

    I had to use the shutoff valve at the hot water heater. Since the tub is the lowest faucet in the house, it’s only dripping a little with the handle open.

  29. Palin4Prez, on May 16, 2009 at 11:18 AM said:

    valve stem is out! Now I have to try not to strip the screw.

    Is there any stuff I should put on the threads of the stem (teflon tape?) before screwing it back in?

  30. deadenders, on May 16, 2009 at 11:20 AM said:

    Be careful P4 you strip or break that piece and your project just got bigger an more $. Do try some WD 40 or penetrating oil and let it sit for a bit then try to get it off. Righty tighty leftey loosey.

  31. imustprotest, on May 16, 2009 at 11:27 AM said:

    Looks like Uppity needs to put in a “plumbing” tab too!

  32. Mrs. Bucket, on May 16, 2009 at 11:38 AM said:

    I BET SHE VOTED LAST YEAR TOO!

    lol

  33. Palin4Prez, on May 16, 2009 at 11:42 AM said:

    Looks like Trip #2 to Lowes is in order. The whole assembly looks like crap and the Wal-mart washer replacement kit doesn’t have the right match.

  34. Palin4Prez, on May 16, 2009 at 11:56 AM said:

    Uppity, which trap is overflowing? Is it clogged somewhere down the line?

  35. Star, on May 16, 2009 at 12:50 PM said:

    Speaking of your permanent record, I got Mom’s ER record from last Sat nite (flaming hoops but I did it), and it contained a number of errors. First they never asked her meds from last time (good old eletronic record). She is off two of the meds. They said she had Type II diabetes–no way. It said she had Alzheimer’s–nope, senile dementia. It said she had been unconscious from the fall-she had not been. I have learned they do NOT remove incorrect info a la HIPAA–you can just file a paper with your “version” and they will scan it in. See how great this will be?

  36. gagirl, on May 16, 2009 at 1:49 PM said:

    Ugh, plumbing never works out well as a DIY project at my house. Best of luck with minimal trips to Lowe’s….I see you are only at 2 trips so far.

  37. gagirl, on May 16, 2009 at 1:52 PM said:

    Star, reading your comment, i got all sorts of scenarios for what will be with the new electronic info and decisions made from “above”. How many treatments would be pushed/denied based on just those mistakes from ONE ER trip? And then you can’t get it changed? Argh.

  38. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 2:12 PM said:

    P4, it’s the main trap in basement. Old home, open trap. I dropped the pump in it and drained it out. It’s clogged, plugged, whatever, Did a plung over main ground pipe got it moving some, cat probably dropped another ball in it. It wouldn’t be the first time. My plumber is in cape cod till tomorrow night. he called me back from there. Since I come prepared, I had a pump so I’m not going to fret about it. He’ll clear it. We had a lot of rain too so the runoff water was also competing. It’ dragging pretty slow, so I need my plumber.

  39. Palin4Prez, on May 16, 2009 at 2:38 PM said:

    It looks like my hard water froze up the threads on the packing nut. The new stem won’t be in (Ace this time) until Monday. So, I put plumber’s grease all over the threads, worked it back down, stuck a new washer on the end and screwed the old stem back the hell in. So no hot water in the bath tub, but there’s hot water in the rest of the house.

  40. Star, on May 16, 2009 at 4:13 PM said:

    How many treatments would be pushed/denied based on just those mistakes from ONE ER trip? And then you can’t get it changed? Argh.

    Perzackly! Someone did an interview with me and called me a “respected patient activist,” which was news to me–but I guess this is my role now in addition to “tiresome gadfly.”

  41. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 4:54 PM said:

    Paulson and Bernanke will be there too. They always are.

  42. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 4:58 PM said:

    Ok P4, I’m reporting in. I pumped and pumped. Then the pump got jammed. Then I took it apart and fixed it. Then I pumped and pumped. Then I plunged and plunged and freed up the main vertical pipe. But the drain that’s flush with the botton of the trap is still clogged. But at least I can shower between now and Monday morning, so life is good. Too bad I am so tired I could sleep till Tuesday. My spousal unit is a wonderful specimen. Simply wonderful. However he can fix anything just so long as you hand him the Yellow Pages. I am the fixer. he’s way more creative than I am though. And nicer. So he’s cooking dinner because he feels sorry for me. Methinks I can milk this.

  43. Anthony, on May 16, 2009 at 6:14 PM said:

    I’m sure her identity belongs to a live ACORN voter. Its easy to do. I have one registered to 101 year old Mr. Lucky von Schtupp (thinking I was such a lucky f*ck for running into ACORN in the first place) at my home address, which I wangled from an ACORN rep on B’way and 81st St. during the primary.

    I brought suit against Mr. von Schtupp (really), but the judge advised me that I should wait for a class action suit against an ‘organization that is under surveillance’ and told me I would be contacted. So far, the only contact I’ve had are 2 ‘random’ IRS audits. Is lying from the bench a felony?

  44. Palin4Prez, on May 16, 2009 at 6:15 PM said:

    UW,

    Sweet deal. Well, the patch job of a valve stem has no leaks, but I still don’t trust it to open and close until I replace the whole thing.

    Plus, now that the hot water doesn’t drip, the water takes 10 seonds to get hot out of the tap. I’ll probably end up using more water now 😛

    But at least I have a full set of shower bonnet sockets.

  45. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 6:36 PM said:

    Hey P4! You and I would be great together. Fix one thing, bring another.
    🙂

  46. Palin4Prez, on May 16, 2009 at 6:48 PM said:

    Reminds me of when my uncle busted my belt tensioner replacing my alternator.

  47. deadenders, on May 16, 2009 at 7:10 PM said:

    P4 are you going to be able to replace the stem or will you have to put in a new complete assembly?

  48. Palin4Prez, on May 16, 2009 at 7:33 PM said:

    From what I can tell, all I need is the stem with the packing nut and bonnet attached. It comes as one piece and costs $15. All I have to do is screw it in. The old one is screwed in with a new nut, but the threads are so caked with scale that I can’t really use the bathroom faucet. But at least I have hot water and the leak stopped.

  49. Palin4Prez, on May 16, 2009 at 7:36 PM said:

    *new nut should be new washer.

  50. deadenders, on May 16, 2009 at 7:46 PM said:

    Cool Noodles P4

  51. JustMe, on May 16, 2009 at 8:29 PM said:

    OH gosh plumbing I have a dripping hot tap and cannot turn the handle underneath to turn the water off to add a washer?
    It is stuck solidtried WD40??? anyone with ideas?

    Thanks

  52. JustMe, on May 16, 2009 at 8:30 PM said:

    penetrating oil

    can this be any oil??

  53. Palin4Prez, on May 16, 2009 at 9:01 PM said:

    You can try turning off the water at a main or at the hot water line, like I had to.

    Oh, and is it one handle with both hot and cold or a faucet with separate hot and cold handles?

  54. JustMe, on May 16, 2009 at 9:09 PM said:

    Yes hot water line is under the sink which is locked solid I have no idea where the mains are….LOL

    it is a faucet with separate hot and cold handles?

    sink with 2 taps (faucet ) one hot one cold….

  55. JustMe, on May 16, 2009 at 9:09 PM said:

    I am going to add some oil overnight maybe that will loosen it and try it again in the morning..

  56. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 9:16 PM said:

    P4 while you were at home depot you should have just bought a new faucet unit and put the whole thing out of its misery.

  57. deadenders, on May 16, 2009 at 9:43 PM said:

    Justme Penetrating oil is a spray oil like WD-40 or CRC or PB-Blaster. PB-Blaster is the best and does a better job of preventing rust. You spray it on and it gets into the threads and makes it easier to break loose. You can also try heat from a torch. Heat up the nut or outside of the fitting to expand it and start wrenching.

  58. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 9:48 PM said:

    Just, the water shut off valve is located right near your water meter if it is indoors. If your meter is outdoors, just follow the line to inside your house, and you will see the valve nearby. It’s just a turn handle.

  59. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 9:50 PM said:

    This place is This Old House tonight. lol.

  60. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 9:51 PM said:

    Tomorrow I tackle my Mantis tiller. The SOB isn’t getting gas to the carburator. (*(%&#&#&#

  61. deadenders, on May 16, 2009 at 10:25 PM said:

    UW first thing to check with your tiller is the fuel filter in the gas tank. Always a problem on chain saws and any other gas powered tool that sits a lot.

  62. gagirl, on May 16, 2009 at 10:31 PM said:

    I love, love, love old houses, but it is sort of an illness, I believe.

  63. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 10:35 PM said:

    Me too GA. The nooks. The crannies. The wordworking detail. The charm. The grace. The bills. lol.

  64. Palin4Prez, on May 16, 2009 at 10:40 PM said:

    Probably the gas line got cut 😀

    UW,

    The problem is that the tub faucet is a real pain in the ass. Unless I get the right stem/seat assembly, I can’t just screw the thing in through the wall. When I put a new tub surround in, I may consider spending $50 to get new handles and hardware. But I’ll need to tear out the wall behind the shower and possibly install some damn shutoff valves.

    When my bathroom faucet was leaking, I just picked up the replacement kit with handles and everything at Wal-Mart in one blister pack. I also put in flexible supply lines because those stiff compression fittings suck ass to work on.

  65. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 10:40 PM said:

    Yeah DE, you are a smart one. A friend of mine picked one up for me. We took the whole thing apart. Thought I might have to get a carb kit. We changed the fuel lines too. That filter in the tank looked rotted so he’s picking one up. This is an old mantis, I can’t complain, but I will get it going. Starts fine but burns off what I crank into it and then dies. It’s not sucking gas. We’ll see tomorrow. I need to get the edging done and I love that edger attachment. Great thatcher too. The thing is, i use the thing a few hours each year. But I do put it up well. Empty the tank, remove the plug, drop some of the oil in the hole, grease the tines, blah blah. That ungrateful lil bastage!

  66. gagirl, on May 16, 2009 at 10:42 PM said:

    The heart. The soul. The smell. The old wood. The old glass. The breeze (hot or cold) that flows through the old glass and wood.

  67. JustMe, on May 16, 2009 at 11:21 PM said:

    Thanks UW & DE I will tackle it tomorrow ….

    I need to do my Honeysuckle but the birds nest and we have babies each year so have to wait till later….

    late afternoon we have a chorus of singing babies trying their voices out!

  68. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 11:52 PM said:

    The heart. The soul. The smell. The old wood. The old glass. The breeze (hot or cold) that flows through the old glass and wood.

    The new roof. The new furnace. The new plumbing.

  69. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 11:53 PM said:

    P4.5:
    I have access walls to my bathrooms. You never know.

  70. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 11:53 PM said:

    GA I have Rochester floors. Now we both know you can’t beat that.

  71. Uppity Woman, on May 16, 2009 at 11:55 PM said:

    Looks like I need a FIXIT tab. Yes?

  72. socalannie, on May 17, 2009 at 12:40 AM said:

    Fixit tab!!! Great idea.

  73. JustMe, on May 17, 2009 at 12:47 AM said:

    Oh yes fix it tab would be awesome…. this is the bestest place lol…….

    and that tab will just finish the top off nicely..

  75. gagirl, on May 17, 2009 at 1:32 AM said:

    Yeah, you win. Are your winter bills must really bad? Mine are, but only for two months. It’s the summer ones…….we air condition the shrubs and mosquitos that are right outside. Spring has been glorious, except it’s time to paint again. 🙂

  76. Uppity Woman, on May 17, 2009 at 1:39 AM said:

    My heating bill is horrendous. I have the maximum energy efficient furnace, which sounds like a frigging freight train but is supposed to save me money. So my bill is horrendous instead of mortifying. The central air is a bit better due to replacement windows… French of course.

    I’m happy to know you are kind to mosquitoes. Somebody has to do it. It’s so sad to watch less fortunate mosquitoes wearing sweat bands and panting.

  77. gagirl, on May 17, 2009 at 2:21 AM said:

    I remember the first winter bill after we moved to our latest old house. It was a good bit bigger than our last home, but did have a new furnace. I almost cried when I opened the bill. I thought I was going to have to go sell my body or something to pay for it, and it was December’s bill, right after Christmas. Everyone wore thick sweaters for the rest of the winter b/c I turned the temp way down…….and they still do. It’s ridiculous. I crank up the heat if we have company, but the kids are used to a chilly house. But we have only a couple really cold months.

    We need replacement windows, but I love our windows……the old glass has “run” and the windows have these great details. Every summer I think about having storm windows made (custom, of course b/c none of them are stock size), but we have an ungodly amount of windows and there is always something else to spend that money on. Of course, the windows are why I bought this house. haha Yep, it’s an illness.

    Yeah, we have some pretty happy mosquitoes……they come back every year and bring their extended families.

  78. surfergrrl, on May 17, 2009 at 3:20 AM said:

    New handles and hardware for tub faucet – $50

    Tub and shower socket wrench set – $29.99

    Uppity Woman – Priceless

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