Stimulus Checks Sent to the Deceased

In a week where America and people learned that the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds are running out of money faster than ever before and the U.S. Treasury ran a deficit of nearly $21 billion last month, news reports show that 8,000-10,000 'stimulus' checks totaling millions of dollars are being mailed out to the dearly departed. In one case, the recipient died 34 years ago – in Italy.

“How much money is this Administration going to waste? This just seems unreal and I hope it is,” said Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX), lead House Republican on the Joint Economic Committee.

“As the American people continue to see example after example of the massive waste embedded in the stimulus bill rushed through Congress earlier this year, we must hold the Obama Administration accountable,” added Brady who has consistently advocated for more taxpayer protection in the Administration's spending bills.

A description of the criteria for theses payments is on the Social Security Administrations webpage.