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The real problem, as described in this article, is that it's all too easy for someone to enter the wrong number. There is no checksum digit on the Social Securi
by reuven 11y ago
The real problem, as described in this article, is that it's all too easy for someone to enter the wrong number. There is no checksum digit on the Social Security Numbers, so if someone accidentally types a 1 instead of a 2, the wrong person is declared dead.
Given this, it's amazing that the error rate is so low. I also have to assume that given the size of the United States, and the number of computer systems that expect a certain format of SSN, that the odds of adding a checksum digit are basically zero. Which means that these errors will continue for some time, and that the only solution is basically for the Social Security Administration to double- and triple-check reported deaths.
- hannibalhorn 11y agoThe article mentions that a funeral director mistyped a SSN, so the SSA does receive bad information from "trusted" sources. That said, I would presume they ask for a full name, not just a SSN, in the death notice. They don't seem to be verifying that the name more-or-less matches at all. Certainly there are not 12,000 deaths a year where a one digit error in the SSN would lead to another person with the same name.
- jug 11y agoMany countries do use checksum digits, but I just found that Denmark is an interesting case where they no longer (!) require or use checksums that were previously mandatory. The reason is supposedly an increasing number of immigrants with uncertain dates who're then registered as born on January 1, or the first day in a month. Now that's a funny case of having to abandon best practices.
- pavel_lishin 11y agoWow, that's interesting. I wonder why they didn't just assign random birth dates to them?