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.
James Hagner talks with 11 News reporter Lowell Melser. "I just want to keep (the check) as a souvenir," he said.
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.
Agents ask that people return the check if they receive it.
Hagner said he'd like to frame it and hang it on his wall.
"I just want to keep it as a souvenir, that's all. I'll never cash it," Hagner said.
Social Security officials said they aren't expecting to lose too much money to fraud. They're reminding the public that it's a federal offense to cash someone else's Social Security check.
I've gotta agree with this comment:
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I don't accept the explanation below from the SS Office on how this happened. This is a direct result of ACORN getting their hands on deceased people’s personal information to illegally register voters throughout the country. I’ll bet if they took this to the next step in the investigation process they'd find that this "person" actually voted democrat last November in this county. I wonder how many illegal voters helped put NOBama over the top last year. START THE REVOLUTION
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.
The women has been dead for 43 years. This statement speaks volumes about the inefficiency of our government.
My dad has been gone for 12 years and still gets increases in his credit card and new ones through the mail. My boss's mom who has been gone for about 15 years, still gets updates and newsletters from her retirement company.
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