# Social Security Updates to Prevent Fraud

> SSA corrects 15% of Social Security records to stop fraud and improper payments.
- Title: Social Security Updates to Prevent Fraud · Newsweek | Shortify
- Summary: SSA corrects 15% of Social Security records to stop fraud and improper payments. Social Security Administration updated 15% of active records to prevent…
- Keywords: social security administration, social security number, fraud prevention, improper payments, ssn records, social security benefits, ssn database, Social, Security, Updates, Prevent, Fraud
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/social-security-makes-major-update-to-prevent-fraud-12601193
- Published: 2026-10-21T17:53:47+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: social security administration, social security number, fraud prevention, improper payments, ssn records, social security benefits, ssn database
## SSA Announces Major Database Update
The Social Security Administration corrected tens of millions of files in its Social Security Number database, describing it as the most comprehensive cleanup in the agency's 91-year history.
## Commissioner Bisignano Explains Importance
Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano stated the database's accuracy is essential for government services and prevents fraud across federal programs.
## SSA Corrects 15% of Records
Since the beginning of the Trump administration, the agency has corrected nearly 15 percent of active Social Security numbers across 330 million U.S. citizens and nearly 390 million total records.
## New Changes Include Death Dates and Citizenship
The update added 17 million missing death dates and updated approximately 25 million records lacking citizenship information.
## SSA Working on 8.5 Million More Records
The agency is also correcting another 8.5 million records with inaccurate citizenship information and has stronger internal controls to prevent manual data entry errors.
## Fraud and Improper Payments
A 2024 report found the SSA paid $8.6 trillion in benefits between 2015 and 2022, with $71.8 billion, or 0.84 percent, being improper payments.
## What Happens Next
The SSA is still correcting approximately 8.5 million records with inaccurate citizenship status but aims to reduce fraud and improper payments across federal programs.
## Key takeaway

Social Security Administration updated 15% of active records to prevent fraud and improper payments.